Berlin vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Lisbon

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Population 3,400,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 517,000
Official language(s) German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Very high Low Very high
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
Most common months to visit May - September March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards 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 Yes No No Yes
Average monthly costs $2200 $1549 $659 $1984
Rent $939 $618 $354 $965
Groceries $188 $129 $44 $136
Dining out $271 $269 $81 $271
Cafe $57 $32 $18 $37
Coworking space $174 $151 $49 $164
Mobile internet $23 $27 $3 $24
Public transportation $88 $55 $6 $63
Taxis $58 $21 $6 $27
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $18
Sport and cultural events $64 $19 $11 $29
Museums and sights $37 $15 $15 $24
Nightlife $63 $43 $22 $47
Gym $66 $36 $9 $65
Yoga $99 $56 $23 $65
Massage $56 $30 $15 $50
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone
Tipping 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 Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow
Tap water 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. 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 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 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 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow