Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Madrid

Buenos Aires ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 2,900,000 4,617,560 144,900 517,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Greek Portuguese Spanish
Level of English High Very high High Very high Moderate
Main airport Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit September - December March - May, September - November March - May, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, September - November
Currency ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1321 $1549 $1959 $1984 $2498
Rent $844 $618 $678 $965 $1174
Groceries $98 $129 $157 $136 $175
Dining out $121 $269 $261 $271 $313
Cafe $25 $32 $56 $37 $51
Coworking space $95 $151 $209 $164 $196
Mobile internet $11 $27 $35 $24 $10
Public transportation $9 $55 $63 $63 $78
Taxis $9 $21 $42 $27 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $14 $49 $45 $18 $49
Sport and cultural events $24 $19 $28 $29 $54
Museums and sights $4 $15 $8 $24 $20
Nightlife $23 $43 $110 $47 $82
Gym $14 $36 $107 $65 $44
Yoga $19 $56 $105 $65 $142
Massage $10 $30 $54 $50 $64
SIM card options Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
Tipping 10% at restaurants and cafรฉs is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt nTaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. 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 Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka 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 restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafรฉs for matรฉ and facturas Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. 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 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow