Austin vs Barbados vs Berlin vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Madrid

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Barbados ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง
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Berlin ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 926,426 110,000 3,400,000 4,617,560 517,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) English (de facto) English, Bajan Creole German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high Very high Very high Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - May May - September March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2702 $2200 $1549 $1984 $2498
Rent $1650 $1054 $939 $618 $965 $1174
Groceries $243 $234 $188 $129 $136 $175
Dining out $396 $345 $271 $269 $271 $313
Cafe $66 $75 $57 $32 $37 $51
Coworking space $331 $321 $174 $151 $164 $196
Mobile internet $40 $49 $23 $27 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $35 $88 $55 $63 $78
Taxis $73 $106 $58 $21 $27 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $0 $17 $49 $18 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $37 $64 $19 $29 $54
Museums and sights $11 $36 $37 $15 $24 $20
Nightlife $124 $96 $63 $43 $47 $82
Gym $62 $86 $66 $36 $65 $44
Yoga $139 $130 $99 $56 $65 $142
Massage $89 $99 $56 $30 $50 $64
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Digicel Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft None available Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable 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. Bajan cuisine features an eclectic mix of European, Asian, and Caribbean styles resulting in bold, tasty and crunchy meat or fish dishes with lots of spices, lime juice, thyme and salads laden with local vegetables and hot side dishes. Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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 Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Currywurst, spรคtzle, kรถnigsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels 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 Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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!
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 14 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow