Berlin vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Hungarian Turkish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Low Low High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Galeão International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September March - June, September - November April - June, September and October January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1230 $659 $1833 $1289
Rent $939 $499 $354 $1066 $567
Groceries $188 $108 $44 $95 $10
Dining out $271 $202 $81 $210 $227
Cafe $57 $29 $18 $25 $27
Coworking space $174 $120 $49 $130 $140
Mobile internet $23 $9 $3 $7 $10
Public transportation $88 $36 $6 $33 $30
Taxis $58 $27 $6 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $13 $2 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $24 $11 $55 $18
Museums and sights $37 $7 $15 $26 $12
Nightlife $63 $43 $22 $54 $82
Gym $66 $37 $9 $31 $23
Yoga $99 $48 $23 $40 $62
Massage $56 $26 $15 $32 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. 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 Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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. Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow