Berlin vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs New York City

Berlin ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 3,400,000 4,617,560 1,166,978 15,520,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Turkish English (de facto)
Level of English Very high Very high Low Low Very high
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit May - September March - May, September - November November - April April - June, September and October April - June, September - November
Currency EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) USD - US Dollar ($)
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 Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1549 $974 $659 $5431
Rent $939 $618 $274 $354 $2891
Groceries $188 $129 $169 $44 $383
Dining out $271 $269 $108 $81 $656
Cafe $57 $32 $45 $18 $72
Coworking space $174 $151 $95 $49 $326
Mobile internet $23 $27 $11 $3 $45
Public transportation $88 $55 $60 $6 $220
Taxis $58 $21 $20 $6 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $10 $2 $30
Sport and cultural events $64 $19 $8 $11 $100
Museums and sights $37 $15 $8 $15 $74
Nightlife $63 $43 $62 $22 $195
Gym $66 $36 $41 $9 $55
Yoga $99 $56 $55 $23 $197
Massage $56 $30 $10 $15 $109
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom AT&T, Verizon
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, cafรฉs and bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Grab BiTaksi Uber, Lyft
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 sautรฉed 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 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.
Local food specialities Currywurst, spรคtzle, kรถnigsberger 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 Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
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 Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow