Austin vs Barbados vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Madrid

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Barbados ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง
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Buenos Aires ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 926,426 110,000 2,900,000 4,617,560 517,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) English (de facto) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high High Very high Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - May September - December March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2702 $1321 $1549 $1984 $2498
Rent $1650 $1054 $844 $618 $965 $1174
Groceries $243 $234 $98 $129 $136 $175
Dining out $396 $345 $121 $269 $271 $313
Cafe $66 $75 $25 $32 $37 $51
Coworking space $331 $321 $95 $151 $164 $196
Mobile internet $40 $49 $11 $27 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $35 $9 $55 $63 $78
Taxis $73 $106 $9 $21 $27 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $0 $14 $49 $18 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $37 $24 $19 $29 $54
Museums and sights $11 $36 $4 $15 $24 $20
Nightlife $124 $96 $23 $43 $47 $82
Gym $62 $86 $14 $36 $65 $44
Yoga $139 $130 $19 $56 $65 $142
Massage $89 $99 $10 $30 $50 $64
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Digicel Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, 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 10% at restaurants and cafรฉs is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft None available Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water 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. 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. 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 seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors.
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 Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores 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 Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros
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 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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!
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 14 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow