|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
| Population | 4,617,560 | 6,578,0179 | 259,453 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish | Spanish | Korean | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November | January - May, October - December | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $2498 | $2143 | $2184 | $1289 |
| Rent | $618 | $1174 | $923 | $797 | $567 |
| Groceries | $129 | $175 | $127 | $356 | $10 |
| Dining out | $269 | $313 | $207 | $211 | $227 |
| Cafe | $32 | $51 | $42 | $69 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $196 | $160 | $222 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $10 | $21 | $40 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $78 | $17 | $40 | $30 |
| Taxis | $21 | $44 | $9 | $41 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $49 | $49 | $13 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $54 | $97 | $39 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $20 | $217 | $6 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $82 | $77 | $93 | $82 |
| Gym | $36 | $44 | $42 | $69 | $23 |
| Yoga | $56 | $142 | $54 | $112 | $62 |
| Massage | $30 | $64 | $101 | $75 | $29 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants | Not customary or expected | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | N/A | Uber, Kakao | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | 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, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | 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. |
| Local food specialities | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | 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 | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |