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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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| Population | 3,400,000 | 4,617,560 | 259,453 |
| Official language(s) | German | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Very high | Moderate |
| Main airport | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
| Most common months to visit | May - September | March - May, September - November | January - May, October - December |
| Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | Yes | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $2200 | $1549 | $2143 |
| Rent | $939 | $618 | $923 |
| Groceries | $188 | $129 | $127 |
| Dining out | $271 | $269 | $207 |
| Cafe | $57 | $32 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $174 | $151 | $160 |
| Mobile internet | $23 | $27 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $88 | $55 | $17 |
| Taxis | $58 | $21 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $49 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $64 | $19 | $97 |
| Museums and sights | $37 | $15 | $217 |
| Nightlife | $63 | $43 | $77 |
| Gym | $66 | $36 | $42 |
| Yoga | $99 | $56 | $54 |
| Massage | $56 | $30 | $101 |
| SIM card options | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | MTN, Vodacom | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Mytaxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | N/A |
| Tap water | 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. | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices |
| Local food specialities | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole |
| 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 | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |