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Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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| Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 10,978,360 | 2,900,000 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Spanish | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | High | Low | High | Very high | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | January - March, December | September - December | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $1097 | $1321 | $1549 | $659 | $2498 | $1867 |
| Rent | $1650 | $932 | $480 | $844 | $618 | $354 | $1174 | $778 |
| Groceries | $243 | $121 | $82 | $98 | $129 | $44 | $175 | $281 |
| Dining out | $396 | $403 | $174 | $121 | $269 | $81 | $313 | $182 |
| Cafe | $66 | $45 | $22 | $25 | $32 | $18 | $51 | $49 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $77 | $95 | $151 | $49 | $196 | $159 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $11 | $11 | $27 | $3 | $10 | $25 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $23 | $9 | $55 | $6 | $78 | $11 |
| Taxis | $73 | $48 | $28 | $9 | $21 | $6 | $44 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $17 | $14 | $49 | $2 | $49 | $24 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $22 | $24 | $19 | $11 | $54 | $81 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $7 | $4 | $15 | $15 | $20 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $46 | $23 | $43 | $22 | $82 | $64 |
| Gym | $62 | $81 | $15 | $14 | $36 | $9 | $44 | $69 |
| Yoga | $139 | $93 | $57 | $19 | $56 | $23 | $142 | $65 |
| Massage | $89 | $59 | $37 | $10 | $30 | $15 | $64 | $51 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Tigo, Movistar, Claro | Movistar, Claro, Personal | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service | 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | 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. | 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 sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese |
| Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té 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 | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas |
| Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del dÃa. Community markets and sports bars. | Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | 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! | Markets, food stalls, menú del dÃa (cheap set lunch menus) |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 98 options on HappyCow | 104 options on Happy Cow | 79 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow |