Berlin vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Lviv vs Sofia

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 731,387 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Ukrainian Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Very high Low Low High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September March - May, September - November April - June, September and October May - September April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
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 Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1549 $659 $922 $1289
Rent $939 $618 $354 $400 $567
Groceries $188 $129 $44 $91 $10
Dining out $271 $269 $81 $151 $227
Cafe $57 $32 $18 $21 $27
Coworking space $174 $151 $49 $79 $140
Mobile internet $23 $27 $3 $4 $10
Public transportation $88 $55 $6 $5 $30
Taxis $58 $21 $6 $12 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $19 $11 $13 $18
Museums and sights $37 $15 $15 $9 $12
Nightlife $63 $43 $22 $43 $82
Gym $66 $36 $9 $22 $23
Yoga $99 $56 $23 $30 $62
Massage $56 $30 $15 $27 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
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 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, Uklon TaxiMe, TaxiStars
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 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 Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
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 Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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 Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 9 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow