Austin vs Bangkok vs Bogota vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Madrid vs Porto

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Bogota ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด
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Buenos Aires ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Porto ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 10,978,360 2,900,000 4,617,560 6,578,0179 237,559
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Spanish Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Low Low High Very high Moderate Very High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December January - March, December September - December March - May, September - November March - May, September - November May - September
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) COP - Colombian Peso ($) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1097 $1321 $1549 $2498 $1759
Rent $1650 $616 $480 $844 $618 $1174 $717
Groceries $243 $191 $82 $98 $129 $175 $148
Dining out $396 $168 $174 $121 $269 $313 $280
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $25 $32 $51 $45
Coworking space $331 $127 $77 $95 $151 $196 $96
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $11 $27 $10 $21
Public transportation $110 $32 $23 $9 $55 $78 $95
Taxis $73 $19 $28 $9 $21 $44 $25
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $17 $14 $49 $49 $10
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $22 $24 $19 $54 $45
Museums and sights $11 $21 $7 $4 $15 $20 $24
Nightlife $124 $50 $46 $23 $43 $82 $66
Gym $62 $96 $15 $14 $36 $44 $56
Yoga $139 $98 $57 $19 $56 $142 $82
Massage $89 $11 $37 $10 $30 $64 $48
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Tigo, Movistar, Claro Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Vodafone, MEO, NOS
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 10% at restaurants and cafรฉs is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Uber, Cabify Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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. A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buรฑuelos, patacones, tรฉ de coca, changua Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores 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 Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menรบ del dรญa. Community markets and sports bars. Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafรฉs for matรฉ and facturas 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! Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow