Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 15,520,000 | 8,850,000 | 259,453 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | November - April | April - June, September and October | March - May, October, November | January - May, October - December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in most places | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $1549 | $974 | $659 | $1867 | $2143 | $1289 |
Rent | $618 | $274 | $354 | $778 | $923 | $567 |
Groceries | $129 | $169 | $44 | $281 | $127 | $10 |
Dining out | $269 | $108 | $81 | $182 | $207 | $227 |
Cafe | $32 | $45 | $18 | $49 | $42 | $27 |
Coworking space | $151 | $95 | $49 | $159 | $160 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $27 | $11 | $3 | $25 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $55 | $60 | $6 | $11 | $17 | $30 |
Taxis | $21 | $20 | $6 | $9 | $9 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $10 | $2 | $24 | $49 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $19 | $8 | $11 | $81 | $97 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $15 | $20 | $217 | $12 |
Nightlife | $43 | $62 | $22 | $64 | $77 | $82 |
Gym | $36 | $41 | $9 | $69 | $42 | $23 |
Yoga | $56 | $55 | $23 | $65 | $54 | $62 |
Massage | $30 | $10 | $15 | $51 | $101 | $29 |
SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Telcel, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Grab | BiTaksi | Uber | N/A | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | 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. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | 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 | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | 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 | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |