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

Berlin ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Seoul ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 3,400,000 4,617,560 6,578,0179 6,718,903 9,963,452
Official language(s) German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish Portuguese Korean
Level of English Very high Very high Moderate Low Moderate
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeรฃo International Airport Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit May - September March - May, September - November March - May, September - November January - March, December March - May, September - November
Currency EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) KRW - South Korean won (โ‚ฉ)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1549 $2498 $1833 $2184
Rent $939 $618 $1174 $1066 $797
Groceries $188 $129 $175 $95 $356
Dining out $271 $269 $313 $210 $211
Cafe $57 $32 $51 $25 $69
Coworking space $174 $151 $196 $130 $222
Mobile internet $23 $27 $10 $7 $40
Public transportation $88 $55 $78 $33 $40
Taxis $58 $21 $44 $14 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $49 $16 $13
Sport and cultural events $64 $19 $54 $55 $39
Museums and sights $37 $15 $20 $26 $6
Nightlife $63 $43 $82 $54 $93
Gym $66 $36 $44 $31 $69
Yoga $99 $56 $142 $40 $112
Massage $56 $30 $64 $32 $75
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 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 Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable 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 sautรฉed 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. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
Local food specialities Currywurst, spรคtzle, kรถnigsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
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 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. Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow