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Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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| Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 2,900,000 | 4,617,560 | 8,850,000 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | High | High | Very high | Moderate |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | September - December | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $1321 | $1549 | $1867 |
| Rent | $1650 | $932 | $844 | $618 | $778 |
| Groceries | $243 | $121 | $98 | $129 | $281 |
| Dining out | $396 | $403 | $121 | $269 | $182 |
| Cafe | $66 | $45 | $25 | $32 | $49 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $95 | $151 | $159 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $11 | $27 | $25 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $9 | $55 | $11 |
| Taxis | $73 | $48 | $9 | $21 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $14 | $49 | $24 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $24 | $19 | $81 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $4 | $15 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $23 | $43 | $64 |
| Gym | $62 | $81 | $14 | $36 | $69 |
| Yoga | $139 | $93 | $19 | $56 | $65 |
| Massage | $89 | $59 | $10 | $30 | $51 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Movistar, Claro, Personal | MTN, Vodacom | 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% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | Uber, Bolt | Uber |
| Tap water | Drinkable | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | 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 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 | Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 98 options on HappyCow | 79 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 279 listings on Happy Cow |