Berlin vs Budapest vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Playa del Carmen vs Sofia

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 1,768,073 4,617,560 517,000 259,453 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Very high Very high Moderate High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September March - June, September - November March - May, September - November March - May, September, October January - May, October - December April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1230 $1549 $1984 $2143 $1289
Rent $939 $499 $618 $965 $923 $567
Groceries $188 $108 $129 $136 $127 $10
Dining out $271 $202 $269 $271 $207 $227
Cafe $57 $29 $32 $37 $42 $27
Coworking space $174 $120 $151 $164 $160 $140
Mobile internet $23 $9 $27 $24 $21 $10
Public transportation $88 $36 $55 $63 $17 $30
Taxis $58 $27 $21 $27 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $13 $49 $18 $49 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $24 $19 $29 $97 $18
Museums and sights $37 $7 $15 $24 $217 $12
Nightlife $63 $43 $43 $47 $77 $82
Gym $66 $37 $36 $65 $42 $23
Yoga $99 $48 $56 $65 $54 $62
Massage $56 $26 $30 $50 $101 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow N/A TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices 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 Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole 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 Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's 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 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow