Berlin vs Budapest vs Cape Town vs Madrid vs Rio de Janeiro

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 3,400,000 1,768,073 4,617,560 6,578,0179 6,718,903
Official language(s) German Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high High Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit May - September March - June, September - November March - May, September - November March - May, September - November January - March, December
Currency EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1230 $1549 $2498 $1833
Rent $939 $499 $618 $1174 $1066
Groceries $188 $108 $129 $175 $95
Dining out $271 $202 $269 $313 $210
Cafe $57 $29 $32 $51 $25
Coworking space $174 $120 $151 $196 $130
Mobile internet $23 $9 $27 $10 $7
Public transportation $88 $36 $55 $78 $33
Taxis $58 $27 $21 $44 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $13 $49 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $64 $24 $19 $54 $55
Museums and sights $37 $7 $15 $20 $26
Nightlife $63 $43 $43 $82 $54
Gym $66 $37 $36 $44 $31
Yoga $99 $48 $56 $142 $40
Massage $56 $26 $30 $64 $32
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 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 Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. 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, 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 Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow 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 markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets 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 47 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow