Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Lviv ๐บ๐ฆ
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Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
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Tbilisi ๐ฌ๐ช
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Population | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 731,387 | 880,691 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Ukrainian | Spanish | Georgian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | May - September | December - April | March - June |
Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (โด) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | GEL - Georgian Lari (โพ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1549 | $659 | $922 | $2359 | $1462 |
Rent | $618 | $354 | $400 | $1036 | $752 |
Groceries | $129 | $44 | $91 | $236 | $112 |
Dining out | $269 | $81 | $151 | $371 | $169 |
Cafe | $32 | $18 | $21 | $43 | $45 |
Coworking space | $151 | $49 | $79 | $157 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $27 | $3 | $4 | $21 | $4 |
Public transportation | $55 | $6 | $5 | $12 | $8 |
Taxis | $21 | $6 | $12 | $48 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $2 | $16 | $0 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $19 | $11 | $13 | $35 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $15 | $9 | $9 | $9 |
Nightlife | $43 | $22 | $43 | $117 | $53 |
Gym | $36 | $9 | $22 | $37 | $33 |
Yoga | $56 | $23 | $30 | $163 | $37 |
Massage | $30 | $15 | $27 | $75 | $53 |
SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone, Kyivstar | Claro, Movistar | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafรฉs. |
Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, Uklon | Uber, Tu Chofer | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not 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. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. | 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja | 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 | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 9 options on HappyCow | 7 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow |