Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹ðŸ‡
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population | 3,400,000 | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 15,520,000 | 731,387 | 6,578,0179 |
Official language(s) | German | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Turkish | Ukrainian | Spanish |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | Low | Low | Low | Moderate |
Main airport | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
Most common months to visit | May - September | March - May, September - November | November - April | April - June, September and October | May - September | March - May, September - November |
Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (฿) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) | EUR - Euro (€) |
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 almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $2200 | $1549 | $974 | $659 | $922 | $2498 |
Rent | $939 | $618 | $274 | $354 | $400 | $1174 |
Groceries | $188 | $129 | $169 | $44 | $91 | $175 |
Dining out | $271 | $269 | $108 | $81 | $151 | $313 |
Cafe | $57 | $32 | $45 | $18 | $21 | $51 |
Coworking space | $174 | $151 | $95 | $49 | $79 | $196 |
Mobile internet | $23 | $27 | $11 | $3 | $4 | $10 |
Public transportation | $88 | $55 | $60 | $6 | $5 | $78 |
Taxis | $58 | $21 | $20 | $6 | $12 | $44 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $49 | $10 | $2 | $16 | $49 |
Sport and cultural events | $64 | $19 | $8 | $11 | $13 | $54 |
Museums and sights | $37 | $15 | $8 | $15 | $9 | $20 |
Nightlife | $63 | $43 | $62 | $22 | $43 | $82 |
Gym | $66 | $36 | $41 | $9 | $22 | $44 |
Yoga | $99 | $56 | $55 | $23 | $30 | $142 |
Massage | $56 | $30 | $10 | $15 | $27 | $64 |
SIM card options | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone, Kyivstar | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone |
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% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
Taxi apps | Mytaxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Grab | BiTaksi | Uber, Uklon | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not 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 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 | Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. |
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 | Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros |
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 | Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries | 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! |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 9 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |