Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs New York City

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Population 1,768,073 2,900,000 4,617,560 517,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) Hungarian Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese English (de facto)
Level of English High High Very high Very high Very high
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November September - December March - May, September - November March - May, September, October April - June, September - November
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1230 $1321 $1549 $1984 $5431
Rent $499 $844 $618 $965 $2891
Groceries $108 $98 $129 $136 $383
Dining out $202 $121 $269 $271 $656
Cafe $29 $25 $32 $37 $72
Coworking space $120 $95 $151 $164 $326
Mobile internet $9 $11 $27 $24 $45
Public transportation $36 $9 $55 $63 $220
Taxis $27 $9 $21 $27 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $14 $49 $18 $30
Sport and cultural events $24 $24 $19 $29 $100
Museums and sights $7 $4 $15 $24 $74
Nightlife $43 $23 $43 $47 $195
Gym $37 $14 $36 $65 $55
Yoga $48 $19 $56 $65 $197
Massage $26 $10 $30 $50 $109
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Vodafone AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Lyft
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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 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 Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores 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 Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow