Berlin vs Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Tbilisi

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Population 3,400,000 1,830,000 2,900,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 8,850,000 1,108,700
Official language(s) German Romanian Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Georgian
Level of English Very high High High Very high Low Moderate Low
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
Most common months to visit May - September April - October September - December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November March - June
Currency EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) GEL - Georgian Lari (₾)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $2200 $1351 $1321 $1549 $659 $1867 $1462
Rent $939 $615 $844 $618 $354 $778 $752
Groceries $188 $114 $98 $129 $44 $281 $112
Dining out $271 $165 $121 $269 $81 $182 $169
Cafe $57 $38 $25 $32 $18 $49 $45
Coworking space $174 $133 $95 $151 $49 $159 $125
Mobile internet $23 $7 $11 $27 $3 $25 $4
Public transportation $88 $21 $9 $55 $6 $11 $8
Taxis $58 $9 $9 $21 $6 $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $25 $14 $49 $2 $24 $27
Sport and cultural events $64 $29 $24 $19 $11 $81 $21
Museums and sights $37 $29 $4 $15 $15 $20 $9
Nightlife $63 $45 $23 $43 $22 $64 $53
Gym $66 $30 $14 $36 $9 $69 $33
Yoga $99 $59 $19 $56 $23 $65 $37
Massage $56 $31 $10 $30 $15 $51 $53
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline
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% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés.
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber Yandex, Bolt
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams.
Local food specialities Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas 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 Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 10 options on Happy Cow