Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹ðŸ‡
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population | 3,400,000 | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 15,520,000 | 8,850,000 | 880,691 | 259,453 | 6,718,903 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | German | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish | Portuguese | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | Low | Low | Moderate | Low | Moderate | Low | High |
Main airport | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Galeão International Airport | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | May - September | March - May, September - November | November - April | April - June, September and October | March - May, October, November | December - April | January - May, October - December | January - March, December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (฿) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in most places | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $2200 | $1549 | $974 | $659 | $1867 | $2359 | $2143 | $1833 | $1289 |
Rent | $939 | $618 | $274 | $354 | $778 | $1036 | $923 | $1066 | $567 |
Groceries | $188 | $129 | $169 | $44 | $281 | $236 | $127 | $95 | $10 |
Dining out | $271 | $269 | $108 | $81 | $182 | $371 | $207 | $210 | $227 |
Cafe | $57 | $32 | $45 | $18 | $49 | $43 | $42 | $25 | $27 |
Coworking space | $174 | $151 | $95 | $49 | $159 | $157 | $160 | $130 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $23 | $27 | $11 | $3 | $25 | $21 | $21 | $7 | $10 |
Public transportation | $88 | $55 | $60 | $6 | $11 | $12 | $17 | $33 | $30 |
Taxis | $58 | $21 | $20 | $6 | $9 | $48 | $9 | $14 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $49 | $10 | $2 | $24 | $0 | $49 | $16 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $64 | $19 | $8 | $11 | $81 | $35 | $97 | $55 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $37 | $15 | $8 | $15 | $20 | $9 | $217 | $26 | $12 |
Nightlife | $63 | $43 | $62 | $22 | $64 | $117 | $77 | $54 | $82 |
Gym | $66 | $36 | $41 | $9 | $69 | $37 | $42 | $31 | $23 |
Yoga | $99 | $56 | $55 | $23 | $65 | $163 | $54 | $40 | $62 |
Massage | $56 | $30 | $10 | $15 | $51 | $75 | $101 | $32 | $29 |
SIM card options | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Telcel, Movistar | Claro, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | Tim, Claro, Vivo | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants | 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 | Uber, Bolt | Grab | BiTaksi | Uber | Uber, Tu Chofer | N/A | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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 | 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. | Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. | 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 | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | 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 | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | 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 | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Markets, food stalls, menú del dÃa (cheap set lunch menus) | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | 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 | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 54 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |