Berlin vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Medellin

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Population 3,400,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 2,427,000
Official language(s) German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high Low Low
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE)
Most common months to visit May - September March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December
Currency EUR - Euro (€) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($)
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 in some places
Remote worker visa Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1549 $659 $1293
Rent $939 $618 $354 $732
Groceries $188 $129 $44 $87
Dining out $271 $269 $81 $131
Cafe $57 $32 $18 $18
Coworking space $174 $151 $49 $96
Mobile internet $23 $27 $3 $16
Public transportation $88 $55 $6 $21
Taxis $58 $21 $6 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $0
Sport and cultural events $64 $19 $11 $8
Museums and sights $37 $15 $15 $9
Nightlife $63 $43 $22 $73
Gym $66 $36 $9 $15
Yoga $99 $56 $23 $54
Massage $56 $30 $15 $20
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo
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 Tip 10% in restaurants
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi EasyTaxi
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats
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 Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa
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 Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow