Austin vs Berlin vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 1,830,000 4,617,560 1,166,978 15,520,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Turkish
Level of English Very high Very high High Very high Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September April - October March - May, September - November November - April April - June, September and October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
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 sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1351 $1549 $974 $659
Rent $1650 $939 $615 $618 $274 $354
Groceries $243 $188 $114 $129 $169 $44
Dining out $396 $271 $165 $269 $108 $81
Cafe $66 $57 $38 $32 $45 $18
Coworking space $331 $174 $133 $151 $95 $49
Mobile internet $40 $23 $7 $27 $11 $3
Public transportation $110 $88 $21 $55 $60 $6
Taxis $73 $58 $9 $21 $20 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $25 $49 $10 $2
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $29 $19 $8 $11
Museums and sights $11 $37 $29 $15 $8 $15
Nightlife $124 $63 $45 $43 $62 $22
Gym $62 $66 $30 $36 $41 $9
Yoga $139 $99 $59 $56 $55 $23
Massage $89 $56 $31 $30 $10 $15
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom
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 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Grab BiTaksi
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 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. 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
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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight
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 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
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow