Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population | 926,426 | 3,400,000 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 8,053,663 | 144,900 | 2,427,000 | 237,559 | 6,718,903 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | German | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Vietnamese | Greek | Spanish | Portuguese | Portuguese |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | High | Very high | Moderate | High | Low | Very High | Low |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Ná»™i Bà i International Airport (HAN) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Galeão International Airport |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | May - September | April - October | March - May, September - November | January, February, October - December | March - May, October - December | January - April, December | May - September | January - March, December |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2200 | $1351 | $1549 | $1167 | $1959 | $1293 | $1759 | $1833 |
Rent | $1650 | $939 | $615 | $618 | $503 | $678 | $732 | $717 | $1066 |
Groceries | $243 | $188 | $114 | $129 | $151 | $157 | $87 | $148 | $95 |
Dining out | $396 | $271 | $165 | $269 | $134 | $261 | $131 | $280 | $210 |
Cafe | $66 | $57 | $38 | $32 | $39 | $56 | $18 | $45 | $25 |
Coworking space | $331 | $174 | $133 | $151 | $72 | $209 | $96 | $96 | $130 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $23 | $7 | $27 | $4 | $35 | $16 | $21 | $7 |
Public transportation | $110 | $88 | $21 | $55 | $20 | $63 | $21 | $95 | $33 |
Taxis | $73 | $58 | $9 | $21 | $13 | $42 | $14 | $25 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $25 | $49 | $0 | $45 | $0 | $10 | $16 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $64 | $29 | $19 | $3 | $28 | $8 | $45 | $55 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $37 | $29 | $15 | $4 | $8 | $9 | $24 | $26 |
Nightlife | $124 | $63 | $45 | $43 | $89 | $110 | $73 | $66 | $54 |
Gym | $62 | $66 | $30 | $36 | $57 | $107 | $15 | $56 | $31 |
Yoga | $139 | $99 | $59 | $56 | $57 | $105 | $54 | $82 | $40 |
Massage | $89 | $56 | $31 | $30 | $21 | $54 | $20 | $48 | $32 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Viettel, Mobifone | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Claro, Tigo | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | 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 | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | Tip 10% in restaurants | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Mytaxi, Uber | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Grab, GoViet | nTaxi | EasyTaxi | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber |
Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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 | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian 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 sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | 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 | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | 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 | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | 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 | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 104 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 54 options on Happy Cow |