Berlin vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 8,053,663 15,520,000 144,900 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Vietnamese Turkish Greek Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Moderate Low High Low High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Galeão International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, October - December January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1167 $659 $1959 $1833 $1289
Rent $939 $503 $354 $678 $1066 $567
Groceries $188 $151 $44 $157 $95 $10
Dining out $271 $134 $81 $261 $210 $227
Cafe $57 $39 $18 $56 $25 $27
Coworking space $174 $72 $49 $209 $130 $140
Mobile internet $23 $4 $3 $35 $7 $10
Public transportation $88 $20 $6 $63 $33 $30
Taxis $58 $13 $6 $42 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $0 $2 $45 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $3 $11 $28 $55 $18
Museums and sights $37 $4 $15 $8 $26 $12
Nightlife $63 $89 $22 $110 $54 $82
Gym $66 $57 $9 $107 $31 $23
Yoga $99 $57 $23 $105 $40 $62
Massage $56 $21 $15 $54 $32 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up 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 Grab, GoViet BiTaksi nTaxi Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka 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 Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. 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 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow