Austin vs Berlin vs Bogota vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Rio de Janeiro

Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 10,978,360 4,617,560 15,520,000 6,718,903
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Very high Low Very high Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September January - March, December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - March, December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1097 $1549 $659 $1833
Rent $1650 $939 $480 $618 $354 $1066
Groceries $243 $188 $82 $129 $44 $95
Dining out $396 $271 $174 $269 $81 $210
Cafe $66 $57 $22 $32 $18 $25
Coworking space $331 $174 $77 $151 $49 $130
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $27 $3 $7
Public transportation $110 $88 $23 $55 $6 $33
Taxis $73 $58 $28 $21 $6 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $17 $49 $2 $16
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $22 $19 $11 $55
Museums and sights $11 $37 $7 $15 $15 $26
Nightlife $124 $63 $46 $43 $22 $54
Gym $62 $66 $15 $36 $9 $31
Yoga $139 $99 $57 $56 $23 $40
Massage $89 $56 $37 $30 $15 $32
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Tigo, Movistar, Claro MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Cabify Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. 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 sautéed 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 Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. 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 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.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow