Berlin vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Rio de Janeiro

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 3,400,000 2,900,000 4,617,560 517,000 6,578,0179 6,718,903
Official language(s) German Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high High Very high Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit May - September September - December March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November January - March, December
Currency EUR - Euro (€) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1321 $1549 $1984 $2498 $1833
Rent $939 $844 $618 $965 $1174 $1066
Groceries $188 $98 $129 $136 $175 $95
Dining out $271 $121 $269 $271 $313 $210
Cafe $57 $25 $32 $37 $51 $25
Coworking space $174 $95 $151 $164 $196 $130
Mobile internet $23 $11 $27 $24 $10 $7
Public transportation $88 $9 $55 $63 $78 $33
Taxis $58 $9 $21 $27 $44 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $14 $49 $18 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $64 $24 $19 $29 $54 $55
Museums and sights $37 $4 $15 $24 $20 $26
Nightlife $63 $23 $43 $47 $82 $54
Gym $66 $14 $36 $65 $44 $31
Yoga $99 $19 $56 $65 $142 $40
Massage $56 $10 $30 $50 $64 $32
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
Local food specialities Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow