Berlin vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs New York City vs Sofia

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 2,900,000 15,520,000 6,578,0179 8,323,340 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Spanish Turkish Spanish English (de facto) Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate Very high High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September September - December April - June, September and October March - May, September - November April - June, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) USD - US Dollar ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1321 $659 $2498 $5431 $1289
Rent $939 $844 $354 $1174 $2891 $567
Groceries $188 $98 $44 $175 $383 $10
Dining out $271 $121 $81 $313 $656 $227
Cafe $57 $25 $18 $51 $72 $27
Coworking space $174 $95 $49 $196 $326 $140
Mobile internet $23 $11 $3 $10 $45 $10
Public transportation $88 $9 $6 $78 $220 $30
Taxis $58 $9 $6 $44 $78 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $14 $2 $49 $30 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $24 $11 $54 $100 $18
Museums and sights $37 $4 $15 $20 $74 $12
Nightlife $63 $23 $22 $82 $195 $82
Gym $66 $14 $9 $44 $55 $23
Yoga $99 $19 $23 $142 $197 $62
Massage $56 $10 $15 $64 $109 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone AT&T, Verizon A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Lyft 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 Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. 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 Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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! Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow