Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Barbados ๐ง๐ง
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Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Population | 926,426 | 110,000 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 144,900 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | English, Bajan Creole | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Greek |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | High | Very high | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | November - May | April - October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October - December |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2702 | $1351 | $1549 | $1959 |
Rent | $1650 | $1054 | $615 | $618 | $678 |
Groceries | $243 | $234 | $114 | $129 | $157 |
Dining out | $396 | $345 | $165 | $269 | $261 |
Cafe | $66 | $75 | $38 | $32 | $56 |
Coworking space | $331 | $321 | $133 | $151 | $209 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $49 | $7 | $27 | $35 |
Public transportation | $110 | $35 | $21 | $55 | $63 |
Taxis | $73 | $106 | $9 | $21 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $0 | $25 | $49 | $45 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $37 | $29 | $19 | $28 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $36 | $29 | $15 | $8 |
Nightlife | $124 | $96 | $45 | $43 | $110 |
Gym | $62 | $86 | $30 | $36 | $107 |
Yoga | $139 | $130 | $59 | $56 | $105 |
Massage | $89 | $99 | $31 | $30 | $54 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Digicel | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN |
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% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | None available | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | nTaxi |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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. | 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. | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. |
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 | Sarmale, mฤmฤligฤ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤ de burtฤ, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka |
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 | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available |