Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Population | 3,400,000 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 8,850,000 | 237,559 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | German | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Spanish | Portuguese | Korean | Bulgarian | Georgian |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | Low | Moderate | Very High | Moderate | High | Low |
Main airport | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | May - September | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, October, November | May - September | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October | March - June |
Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | KRW - South Korean won (₩) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) | GEL - Georgian Lari (₾) |
Credit cards | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $2200 | $1549 | $659 | $1867 | $1759 | $2184 | $1289 | $1462 |
Rent | $939 | $618 | $354 | $778 | $717 | $797 | $567 | $752 |
Groceries | $188 | $129 | $44 | $281 | $148 | $356 | $10 | $112 |
Dining out | $271 | $269 | $81 | $182 | $280 | $211 | $227 | $169 |
Cafe | $57 | $32 | $18 | $49 | $45 | $69 | $27 | $45 |
Coworking space | $174 | $151 | $49 | $159 | $96 | $222 | $140 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $23 | $27 | $3 | $25 | $21 | $40 | $10 | $4 |
Public transportation | $88 | $55 | $6 | $11 | $95 | $40 | $30 | $8 |
Taxis | $58 | $21 | $6 | $9 | $25 | $41 | $12 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $49 | $2 | $24 | $10 | $13 | $40 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $64 | $19 | $11 | $81 | $45 | $39 | $18 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $37 | $15 | $15 | $20 | $24 | $6 | $12 | $9 |
Nightlife | $63 | $43 | $22 | $64 | $66 | $93 | $82 | $53 |
Gym | $66 | $36 | $9 | $69 | $56 | $69 | $23 | $33 |
Yoga | $99 | $56 | $23 | $65 | $82 | $112 | $62 | $37 |
Massage | $56 | $30 | $15 | $51 | $48 | $75 | $29 | $53 |
SIM card options | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Telcel, Movistar | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
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 | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | Not customary or expected | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés. |
Taxi apps | Mytaxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Uber, Kakao | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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 | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. | 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. | Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. |
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 | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli |
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 | Markets, food stalls, menú del dÃa (cheap set lunch menus) | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow |