Austin vs Bangkok vs Barcelona vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Lisbon

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 5,585,556 1,830,000 4,617,560 517,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Catalan, Spanish Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese
Level of English Very high Low High High Very high Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December April - June, September - November April - October March - May, September - November March - May, September, October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No Yes No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $2384 $1351 $1549 $1984
Rent $1650 $616 $932 $615 $618 $965
Groceries $243 $191 $121 $114 $129 $136
Dining out $396 $168 $403 $165 $269 $271
Cafe $66 $45 $45 $38 $32 $37
Coworking space $331 $127 $213 $133 $151 $164
Mobile internet $40 $23 $10 $7 $27 $24
Public transportation $110 $32 $127 $21 $55 $63
Taxis $73 $19 $48 $9 $21 $27
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $24 $25 $49 $18
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $81 $29 $19 $29
Museums and sights $11 $21 $33 $29 $15 $24
Nightlife $124 $50 $112 $45 $43 $47
Gym $62 $96 $81 $30 $36 $65
Yoga $139 $98 $93 $59 $56 $65
Massage $89 $11 $59 $31 $30 $50
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Vodafone
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Cabify, FreeNow Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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 seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Sarmale, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 98 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow