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Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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| Population | 926,426 | 3,400,000 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 517,000 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | German | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Portuguese |
| Level of English | Very high | Very high | Very high | Low | Very high |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | May - September | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2200 | $1549 | $659 | $1984 |
| Rent | $1650 | $939 | $618 | $354 | $965 |
| Groceries | $243 | $188 | $129 | $44 | $136 |
| Dining out | $396 | $271 | $269 | $81 | $271 |
| Cafe | $66 | $57 | $32 | $18 | $37 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $174 | $151 | $49 | $164 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $23 | $27 | $3 | $24 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $88 | $55 | $6 | $63 |
| Taxis | $73 | $58 | $21 | $6 | $27 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $49 | $2 | $18 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $64 | $19 | $11 | $29 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $37 | $15 | $15 | $24 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $63 | $43 | $22 | $47 |
| Gym | $62 | $66 | $36 | $9 | $65 |
| Yoga | $139 | $99 | $56 | $23 | $65 |
| Massage | $89 | $56 | $30 | $15 | $50 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Mytaxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. | 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. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries |
| Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana |
| Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | 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 | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow |