Austin vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Mexico City vs New York City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 926,426 4,617,560 517,000 8,850,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) English (de facto) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English Very high Very high Very high Moderate Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, October, November April - June, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1549 $1984 $1867 $5431
Rent $1650 $618 $965 $778 $2891
Groceries $243 $129 $136 $281 $383
Dining out $396 $269 $271 $182 $656
Cafe $66 $32 $37 $49 $72
Coworking space $331 $151 $164 $159 $326
Mobile internet $40 $27 $24 $25 $45
Public transportation $110 $55 $63 $11 $220
Taxis $73 $21 $27 $9 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $49 $18 $24 $30
Sport and cultural events $54 $19 $29 $81 $100
Museums and sights $11 $15 $24 $20 $74
Nightlife $124 $43 $47 $64 $195
Gym $62 $36 $65 $69 $55
Yoga $139 $56 $65 $65 $197
Massage $89 $30 $50 $51 $109
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Telcel, Movistar AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber Uber, Lyft
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow