Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Lisbon ๐ต๐น
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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New York City ๐บ๐ธ
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Porto ๐ต๐น
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Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Tbilisi ๐ฌ๐ช
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Population | 4,617,560 | 517,000 | 8,850,000 | 8,323,340 | 237,559 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Spanish | English (de facto) | Portuguese | Korean | Bulgarian | Georgian |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Very high | Very High | Moderate | High | Low |
Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | March - May, October, November | April - June, September - November | May - September | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October | March - June |
Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) | GEL - Georgian Lari (โพ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1549 | $1984 | $1867 | $5431 | $1759 | $2184 | $1289 | $1462 |
Rent | $618 | $965 | $778 | $2891 | $717 | $797 | $567 | $752 |
Groceries | $129 | $136 | $281 | $383 | $148 | $356 | $10 | $112 |
Dining out | $269 | $271 | $182 | $656 | $280 | $211 | $227 | $169 |
Cafe | $32 | $37 | $49 | $72 | $45 | $69 | $27 | $45 |
Coworking space | $151 | $164 | $159 | $326 | $96 | $222 | $140 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $27 | $24 | $25 | $45 | $21 | $40 | $10 | $4 |
Public transportation | $55 | $63 | $11 | $220 | $95 | $40 | $30 | $8 |
Taxis | $21 | $27 | $9 | $78 | $25 | $41 | $12 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $18 | $24 | $30 | $10 | $13 | $40 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $19 | $29 | $81 | $100 | $45 | $39 | $18 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $24 | $20 | $74 | $24 | $6 | $12 | $9 |
Nightlife | $43 | $47 | $64 | $195 | $66 | $93 | $82 | $53 |
Gym | $36 | $65 | $69 | $55 | $56 | $69 | $23 | $33 |
Yoga | $56 | $65 | $65 | $197 | $82 | $112 | $62 | $37 |
Massage | $30 | $50 | $51 | $109 | $48 | $75 | $29 | $53 |
SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | AT&T, Verizon | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | Not customary or expected | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafรฉs. |
Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Uber, FreeNow | Uber | Uber, Lyft | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Uber, Kakao | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. | Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital. | Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. |
Local food specialities | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Bacalhau ร bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli |
Eat like a local | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 309 options on HappyCow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow |