Berlin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Cape Town vs Rio de Janeiro

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 3,400,000 1,830,000 1,768,073 4,617,560 6,718,903
Official language(s) German Romanian Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese
Level of English Very high High High Very high Low
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit May - September April - October March - June, September - November March - May, September - November January - March, December
Currency EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1351 $1230 $1549 $1833
Rent $939 $615 $499 $618 $1066
Groceries $188 $114 $108 $129 $95
Dining out $271 $165 $202 $269 $210
Cafe $57 $38 $29 $32 $25
Coworking space $174 $133 $120 $151 $130
Mobile internet $23 $7 $9 $27 $7
Public transportation $88 $21 $36 $55 $33
Taxis $58 $9 $27 $21 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $25 $13 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $64 $29 $24 $19 $55
Museums and sights $37 $29 $7 $15 $26
Nightlife $63 $45 $43 $43 $54
Gym $66 $30 $37 $36 $31
Yoga $99 $59 $48 $56 $40
Massage $56 $31 $26 $30 $32
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 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 and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine 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. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. 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. 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 Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets 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 844 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 54 options on Happy Cow