Berlin vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs New York City vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 8,323,340 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish English (de facto) Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Very high Low Very high Low High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Galeão International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September March - May, September - November April - June, September and October April - June, September - November January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) USD - US Dollar ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
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 Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1549 $659 $5431 $1833 $1289
Rent $939 $618 $354 $2891 $1066 $567
Groceries $188 $129 $44 $383 $95 $10
Dining out $271 $269 $81 $656 $210 $227
Cafe $57 $32 $18 $72 $25 $27
Coworking space $174 $151 $49 $326 $130 $140
Mobile internet $23 $27 $3 $45 $7 $10
Public transportation $88 $55 $6 $220 $33 $30
Taxis $58 $21 $6 $78 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $30 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $19 $11 $100 $55 $18
Museums and sights $37 $15 $15 $74 $26 $12
Nightlife $63 $43 $22 $195 $54 $82
Gym $66 $36 $9 $55 $31 $23
Yoga $99 $56 $23 $197 $40 $62
Massage $56 $30 $15 $109 $32 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom AT&T, Verizon Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
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 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, Lyft Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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 American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
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 Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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 Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants 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. Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow