Berlin vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Playa del Carmen

Berlin ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 3,400,000 4,617,560 1,166,978 15,520,000 259,453
Official language(s) German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high Low Low Moderate
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit May - September March - May, September - November November - April April - June, September and October January - May, October - December
Currency EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
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
Remote worker visa Yes No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $2200 $1549 $974 $659 $2143
Rent $939 $618 $274 $354 $923
Groceries $188 $129 $169 $44 $127
Dining out $271 $269 $108 $81 $207
Cafe $57 $32 $45 $18 $42
Coworking space $174 $151 $95 $49 $160
Mobile internet $23 $27 $11 $3 $21
Public transportation $88 $55 $60 $6 $17
Taxis $58 $21 $20 $6 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $10 $2 $49
Sport and cultural events $64 $19 $8 $11 $97
Museums and sights $37 $15 $8 $15 $217
Nightlife $63 $43 $62 $22 $77
Gym $66 $36 $41 $9 $42
Yoga $99 $56 $55 $23 $54
Massage $56 $30 $10 $15 $101
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar
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, cafรฉs and bars 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Grab BiTaksi N/A
Tap water Drinkable Not 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 sautรฉed 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 Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
Local food specialities Currywurst, spรคtzle, kรถnigsberger 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 Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
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 Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow