Berlin vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 3,400,000 1,830,000 4,617,560 15,520,000
Official language(s) German Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish
Level of English Very high High Very high Low
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit May - September April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September and October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1351 $1549 $659
Rent $939 $615 $618 $354
Groceries $188 $114 $129 $44
Dining out $271 $165 $269 $81
Cafe $57 $38 $32 $18
Coworking space $174 $133 $151 $49
Mobile internet $23 $7 $27 $3
Public transportation $88 $21 $55 $6
Taxis $58 $9 $21 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $25 $49 $2
Sport and cultural events $64 $29 $19 $11
Museums and sights $37 $29 $15 $15
Nightlife $63 $45 $43 $22
Gym $66 $30 $36 $9
Yoga $99 $59 $56 $23
Massage $56 $31 $30 $15
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish
Local food specialities Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow