Austin vs Cape Town

Austin 🇺🇸
Cape Town 🇿🇦
Population 926,426 4,617,560
Official language(s) English (de facto) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English
Level of English Very high Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops
Remote worker visa No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1549
Rent $1650 $618
Groceries $243 $129
Dining out $396 $269
Cafe $66 $32
Coworking space $331 $151
Mobile internet $40 $27
Public transportation $110 $55
Taxis $73 $21
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $19
Museums and sights $11 $15
Nightlife $124 $43
Gym $62 $36
Yoga $139 $56
Massage $89 $30
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. MTN, Vodacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Bolt
Tap water 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. 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 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 Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow