Austin vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs New York City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 4,617,560 8,323,340
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English English (de facto)
Level of English Very high High Very high Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1549 $5431
Rent $1650 $615 $618 $2891
Groceries $243 $114 $129 $383
Dining out $396 $165 $269 $656
Cafe $66 $38 $32 $72
Coworking space $331 $133 $151 $326
Mobile internet $40 $7 $27 $45
Public transportation $110 $21 $55 $220
Taxis $73 $9 $21 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $49 $30
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $19 $100
Museums and sights $11 $29 $15 $74
Nightlife $124 $45 $43 $195
Gym $62 $30 $36 $55
Yoga $139 $59 $56 $197
Massage $89 $31 $30 $109
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Uber, Lyft
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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. 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 Sarmale, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow 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 Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets 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 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 309 options on HappyCow