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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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| Population | 5,585,556 | 4,617,560 | 517,000 | 8,850,000 | 6,718,903 |
| Official language(s) | Catalan, Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Spanish | Portuguese |
| Level of English | High | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Low |
| Main airport | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Galeão International Airport |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September - November | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | March - May, October, November | January - March, December |
| Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost evewhere | 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 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $2384 | $1549 | $1984 | $1867 | $1833 |
| Rent | $932 | $618 | $965 | $778 | $1066 |
| Groceries | $121 | $129 | $136 | $281 | $95 |
| Dining out | $403 | $269 | $271 | $182 | $210 |
| Cafe | $45 | $32 | $37 | $49 | $25 |
| Coworking space | $213 | $151 | $164 | $159 | $130 |
| Mobile internet | $10 | $27 | $24 | $25 | $7 |
| Public transportation | $127 | $55 | $63 | $11 | $33 |
| Taxis | $48 | $21 | $27 | $9 | $14 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $24 | $49 | $18 | $24 | $16 |
| Sport and cultural events | $81 | $19 | $29 | $81 | $55 |
| Museums and sights | $33 | $15 | $24 | $20 | $26 |
| Nightlife | $112 | $43 | $47 | $64 | $54 |
| Gym | $81 | $36 | $65 | $69 | $31 |
| Yoga | $93 | $56 | $65 | $65 | $40 |
| Massage | $59 | $30 | $50 | $51 | $32 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Movistar | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | Tim, Claro, Vivo |
| Tipping | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common |
| Taxi apps | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber, Bolt | Uber, FreeNow | Uber | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | 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. | 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. | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. |
| Local food specialities | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. |
| Eat like a local | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) | The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 98 options on HappyCow | 24 options on HappyCow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 54 options on Happy Cow |