Berlin vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Sofia

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 10,978,360 1,830,000 517,000 6,578,0179 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Spanish Romanian Portuguese Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low High Very high Moderate High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September January - March, December April - October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1097 $1351 $1984 $2498 $1289
Rent $939 $480 $615 $965 $1174 $567
Groceries $188 $82 $114 $136 $175 $10
Dining out $271 $174 $165 $271 $313 $227
Cafe $57 $22 $38 $37 $51 $27
Coworking space $174 $77 $133 $164 $196 $140
Mobile internet $23 $11 $7 $24 $10 $10
Public transportation $88 $23 $21 $63 $78 $30
Taxis $58 $28 $9 $27 $44 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $17 $25 $18 $49 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $22 $29 $29 $54 $18
Museums and sights $37 $7 $29 $24 $20 $12
Nightlife $63 $46 $45 $47 $82 $82
Gym $66 $15 $30 $65 $44 $23
Yoga $99 $57 $59 $65 $142 $62
Massage $56 $37 $31 $50 $64 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 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 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine 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. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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. Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
Local food specialities Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi 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 Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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! Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow