Austin vs Berlin vs Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town

Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 1,768,073 2,900,000 4,617,560
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Hungarian Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English
Level of English Very high Very high High High Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September March - June, September - November September - December March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1230 $1321 $1549
Rent $1650 $939 $499 $844 $618
Groceries $243 $188 $108 $98 $129
Dining out $396 $271 $202 $121 $269
Cafe $66 $57 $29 $25 $32
Coworking space $331 $174 $120 $95 $151
Mobile internet $40 $23 $9 $11 $27
Public transportation $110 $88 $36 $9 $55
Taxis $73 $58 $27 $9 $21
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $13 $14 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $24 $24 $19
Museums and sights $11 $37 $7 $4 $15
Nightlife $124 $63 $43 $23 $43
Gym $62 $66 $37 $14 $36
Yoga $139 $99 $48 $19 $56
Massage $89 $56 $26 $10 $30
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable 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. Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. 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.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants 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
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow