Berlin ๐ฉ๐ช
|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
Rio de Janeiro ๐ง๐ท
|
|
Population | 3,400,000 | 4,617,560 | 6,578,0179 | 6,718,903 |
Official language(s) | German | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish | Portuguese |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Low |
Main airport | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Galeรฃo International Airport |
Most common months to visit | May - September | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November | January - March, December |
Currency | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | 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 everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $2200 | $1549 | $2498 | $1833 |
Rent | $939 | $618 | $1174 | $1066 |
Groceries | $188 | $129 | $175 | $95 |
Dining out | $271 | $269 | $313 | $210 |
Cafe | $57 | $32 | $51 | $25 |
Coworking space | $174 | $151 | $196 | $130 |
Mobile internet | $23 | $27 | $10 | $7 |
Public transportation | $88 | $55 | $78 | $33 |
Taxis | $58 | $21 | $44 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $49 | $49 | $16 |
Sport and cultural events | $64 | $19 | $54 | $55 |
Museums and sights | $37 | $15 | $20 | $26 |
Nightlife | $63 | $43 | $82 | $54 |
Gym | $66 | $36 | $44 | $31 |
Yoga | $99 | $56 | $142 | $40 |
Massage | $56 | $30 | $64 | $32 |
SIM card options | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | MTN, Vodacom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Tim, Claro, Vivo |
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 |
Taxi apps | Mytaxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber |
Tap water | 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 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. |
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. |
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. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 54 options on Happy Cow |