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

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 3,400,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 6,578,0179 6,718,903
Official language(s) German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Very high Low Moderate Low
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit May - September March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November January - March, December
Currency EUR - Euro (€) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
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 everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1549 $659 $2498 $1833
Rent $939 $618 $354 $1174 $1066
Groceries $188 $129 $44 $175 $95
Dining out $271 $269 $81 $313 $210
Cafe $57 $32 $18 $51 $25
Coworking space $174 $151 $49 $196 $130
Mobile internet $23 $27 $3 $10 $7
Public transportation $88 $55 $6 $78 $33
Taxis $58 $21 $6 $44 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $64 $19 $11 $54 $55
Museums and sights $37 $15 $15 $20 $26
Nightlife $63 $43 $22 $82 $54
Gym $66 $36 $9 $44 $31
Yoga $99 $56 $23 $142 $40
Massage $56 $30 $15 $64 $32
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo
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 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, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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, 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 Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight 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 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 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 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow