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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Lisbon ๐ต๐น
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Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Porto ๐ต๐น
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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| Population | 4,617,560 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 237,559 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish | Portuguese | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | Very High | High |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | May - September | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $1984 | $2498 | $1867 | $1759 | $1289 |
| Rent | $618 | $965 | $1174 | $778 | $717 | $567 |
| Groceries | $129 | $136 | $175 | $281 | $148 | $10 |
| Dining out | $269 | $271 | $313 | $182 | $280 | $227 |
| Cafe | $32 | $37 | $51 | $49 | $45 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $164 | $196 | $159 | $96 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $24 | $10 | $25 | $21 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $63 | $78 | $11 | $95 | $30 |
| Taxis | $21 | $27 | $44 | $9 | $25 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $18 | $49 | $24 | $10 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $29 | $54 | $81 | $45 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $24 | $20 | $20 | $24 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $47 | $82 | $64 | $66 | $82 |
| Gym | $36 | $65 | $44 | $69 | $56 | $23 |
| Yoga | $56 | $65 | $142 | $65 | $82 | $62 |
| Massage | $30 | $50 | $64 | $51 | $48 | $29 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | 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 seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | 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 | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | 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 | 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! | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | 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 | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |