Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 1,830,000 4,617,560 517,000 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English High Very high Very high Moderate High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1549 $1984 $1867 $1289
Rent $615 $618 $965 $778 $567
Groceries $114 $129 $136 $281 $10
Dining out $165 $269 $271 $182 $227
Cafe $38 $32 $37 $49 $27
Coworking space $133 $151 $164 $159 $140
Mobile internet $7 $27 $24 $25 $10
Public transportation $21 $55 $63 $11 $30
Taxis $9 $21 $27 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $49 $18 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $19 $29 $81 $18
Museums and sights $29 $15 $24 $20 $12
Nightlife $45 $43 $47 $64 $82
Gym $30 $36 $65 $69 $23
Yoga $59 $56 $65 $65 $62
Massage $31 $30 $50 $51 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian 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 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.
Local food specialities Sarmale, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi 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 Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow