Austin vs Barbados vs Barcelona vs Cape Town vs Lisbon

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Barbados ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง
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Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Population 926,426 110,000 5,585,556 4,617,560 517,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) English, Bajan Creole Catalan, Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese
Level of English Very high Very high High Very high Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - May April - June, September - November March - May, September - November March - May, September, October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX)
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2702 $2384 $1549 $1984
Rent $1650 $1054 $932 $618 $965
Groceries $243 $234 $121 $129 $136
Dining out $396 $345 $403 $269 $271
Cafe $66 $75 $45 $32 $37
Coworking space $331 $321 $213 $151 $164
Mobile internet $40 $49 $10 $27 $24
Public transportation $110 $35 $127 $55 $63
Taxis $73 $106 $48 $21 $27
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $0 $24 $49 $18
Sport and cultural events $54 $37 $81 $19 $29
Museums and sights $11 $36 $33 $15 $24
Nightlife $124 $96 $112 $43 $47
Gym $62 $86 $81 $36 $65
Yoga $139 $130 $93 $56 $65
Massage $89 $99 $59 $30 $50
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Digicel Vodafone, Movistar MTN, Vodacom Vodafone
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft None available Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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. Bajan cuisine features an eclectic mix of European, Asian, and Caribbean styles resulting in bold, tasty and crunchy meat or fish dishes with lots of spices, lime juice, thyme and salads laden with local vegetables and hot side dishes. 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. 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 Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo 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 trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots 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 14 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow