Bangkok vs Berlin vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs New York City

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Population 5,680,000 3,400,000 1,830,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) Thai German Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish English (de facto)
Level of English Low Very high High Very high Low Very high
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December May - September April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September and October April - June, September - November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) USD - US Dollar ($)
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 most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $1560 $2200 $1351 $1549 $659 $5431
Rent $616 $939 $615 $618 $354 $2891
Groceries $191 $188 $114 $129 $44 $383
Dining out $168 $271 $165 $269 $81 $656
Cafe $45 $57 $38 $32 $18 $72
Coworking space $127 $174 $133 $151 $49 $326
Mobile internet $23 $23 $7 $27 $3 $45
Public transportation $32 $88 $21 $55 $6 $220
Taxis $19 $58 $9 $21 $6 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $17 $25 $49 $2 $30
Sport and cultural events $46 $64 $29 $19 $11 $100
Museums and sights $21 $37 $29 $15 $15 $74
Nightlife $50 $63 $45 $43 $22 $195
Gym $96 $66 $30 $36 $9 $55
Yoga $98 $99 $59 $56 $23 $197
Massage $11 $56 $31 $30 $15 $109
SIM card options AIS Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Grab Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, Lyft
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup 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 fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
Local food specialities Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 844 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow