Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐ง๐ท
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Tbilisi ๐ฌ๐ช
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Population | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 6,718,903 | 1,270,169 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Portuguese | Bulgarian | Georgian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Low | High | Low |
Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Galeรฃo International Airport | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | November - April | January - March, December | April-June, September-October | March - June |
Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) | GEL - Georgian Lari (โพ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1549 | $974 | $1833 | $1289 | $1462 |
Rent | $618 | $274 | $1066 | $567 | $752 |
Groceries | $129 | $169 | $95 | $10 | $112 |
Dining out | $269 | $108 | $210 | $227 | $169 |
Cafe | $32 | $45 | $25 | $27 | $45 |
Coworking space | $151 | $95 | $130 | $140 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $27 | $11 | $7 | $10 | $4 |
Public transportation | $55 | $60 | $33 | $30 | $8 |
Taxis | $21 | $20 | $14 | $12 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $10 | $16 | $40 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $19 | $8 | $55 | $18 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $26 | $12 | $9 |
Nightlife | $43 | $62 | $54 | $82 | $53 |
Gym | $36 | $41 | $31 | $23 | $33 |
Yoga | $56 | $55 | $40 | $62 | $37 |
Massage | $30 | $10 | $32 | $29 | $53 |
SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Tim, Claro, Vivo | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | 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 | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafรฉs. |
Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Grab | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | 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. | Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. | 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. | 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 | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. | 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 | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | 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. | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 54 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow |