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Bangkok 🇹ðŸ‡
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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| Population | 5,680,000 | 3,400,000 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 |
| Official language(s) | Thai | German | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Portuguese | Spanish |
| Level of English | Low | Very high | Very high | Low | Very high | Moderate |
| Main airport | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
| Most common months to visit | January - March, November, December | May - September | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | THB - Thai Baht (฿) | EUR - Euro (€) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $1560 | $2200 | $1549 | $659 | $1984 | $2498 |
| Rent | $616 | $939 | $618 | $354 | $965 | $1174 |
| Groceries | $191 | $188 | $129 | $44 | $136 | $175 |
| Dining out | $168 | $271 | $269 | $81 | $271 | $313 |
| Cafe | $45 | $57 | $32 | $18 | $37 | $51 |
| Coworking space | $127 | $174 | $151 | $49 | $164 | $196 |
| Mobile internet | $23 | $23 | $27 | $3 | $24 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $32 | $88 | $55 | $6 | $63 | $78 |
| Taxis | $19 | $58 | $21 | $6 | $27 | $44 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $17 | $49 | $2 | $18 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $46 | $64 | $19 | $11 | $29 | $54 |
| Museums and sights | $21 | $37 | $15 | $15 | $24 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $50 | $63 | $43 | $22 | $47 | $82 |
| Gym | $96 | $66 | $36 | $9 | $65 | $44 |
| Yoga | $98 | $99 | $56 | $23 | $65 | $142 |
| Massage | $11 | $56 | $30 | $15 | $50 | $64 |
| SIM card options | AIS | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone |
| Tipping | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
| Taxi apps | Grab | Mytaxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup | Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread | 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 | 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. |
| Local food specialities | Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros |
| Eat like a local | Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | 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 | 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! |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |