Berlin vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Ubud

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Ubud 🇮🇩
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Population 3,400,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179 112,490
Official language(s) German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Portuguese Spanish Indonesian and Balinese
Level of English Very high Very high Low Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPA)
Most common months to visit May - September March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November May - October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) IDR - Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)
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) Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $2200 $1549 $659 $1984 $2498 $1363
Rent $939 $618 $354 $965 $1174 $658
Groceries $188 $129 $44 $136 $175 $150
Dining out $271 $269 $81 $271 $313 $10
Cafe $57 $32 $18 $37 $51 $28
Coworking space $174 $151 $49 $164 $196 $106
Mobile internet $23 $27 $3 $24 $10 $3
Public transportation $88 $55 $6 $63 $78 $53
Taxis $58 $21 $6 $27 $44 $13
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $18 $49 $33
Sport and cultural events $64 $19 $11 $29 $54 $14
Museums and sights $37 $15 $15 $24 $20 $9
Nightlife $63 $43 $22 $47 $82 $118
Gym $66 $36 $9 $65 $44 $72
Yoga $99 $56 $23 $65 $142 $87
Massage $56 $30 $15 $50 $64 $10
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telkomsel, XL Axiata
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 Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Tip 5 - 10% in restaurants if service charge is not included in the bill
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Grab, GoJek
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable 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 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. Balinese foods revolve on the complex flavors from certain ingredients like fresh vegetables, meat, coconut milk, and time-tested spices mixture.
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 Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Satay, nasi goreng, gado-gado, martabak, bubur sumsum
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 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! Warung for authentic babi guling and bebek betutu, cafes for kopi luwak, street stalls for pisang goreng, nasi campur, and sate lilit
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 255 listings on Happy Cow