Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Mexico City vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

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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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 4,617,560 517,000 8,850,000 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Very high Moderate Low High
Main airport Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Galeรฃo International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, October, November January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
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
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1549 $1984 $1867 $1833 $1289
Rent $618 $965 $778 $1066 $567
Groceries $129 $136 $281 $95 $10
Dining out $269 $271 $182 $210 $227
Cafe $32 $37 $49 $25 $27
Coworking space $151 $164 $159 $130 $140
Mobile internet $27 $24 $25 $7 $10
Public transportation $55 $63 $11 $33 $30
Taxis $21 $27 $9 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $18 $24 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $19 $29 $81 $55 $18
Museums and sights $15 $24 $20 $26 $12
Nightlife $43 $47 $64 $54 $82
Gym $36 $65 $69 $31 $23
Yoga $56 $65 $65 $40 $62
Massage $30 $50 $51 $32 $29
SIM card options MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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 Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. 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 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 Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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) The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow