Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Barbados ๐ง๐ง
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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
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Population | 926,426 | 110,000 | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 6,578,0179 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | English, Bajan Creole | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Spanish |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | Very high | Low | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | November - May | March - May, September - November | November - April | March - May, September - November |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2702 | $1549 | $974 | $2498 |
Rent | $1650 | $1054 | $618 | $274 | $1174 |
Groceries | $243 | $234 | $129 | $169 | $175 |
Dining out | $396 | $345 | $269 | $108 | $313 |
Cafe | $66 | $75 | $32 | $45 | $51 |
Coworking space | $331 | $321 | $151 | $95 | $196 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $49 | $27 | $11 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $35 | $55 | $60 | $78 |
Taxis | $73 | $106 | $21 | $20 | $44 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $0 | $49 | $10 | $49 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $37 | $19 | $8 | $54 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $36 | $15 | $8 | $20 |
Nightlife | $124 | $96 | $43 | $62 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $86 | $36 | $41 | $44 |
Yoga | $139 | $130 | $56 | $55 | $142 |
Massage | $89 | $99 | $30 | $10 | $64 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Digicel | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | 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 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | None available | Uber, Bolt | Grab | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not 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. | 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. | 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. | Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. | 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 | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | 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 | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | 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 | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |