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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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| Population | 5,585,556 | 2,900,000 | 4,617,560 | 517,000 | 8,850,000 |
| Official language(s) | Catalan, Spanish | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Spanish |
| Level of English | High | High | Very high | Very high | Moderate |
| Main airport | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September - November | September - December | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | March - May, October, November |
| Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) |
| Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $2384 | $1321 | $1549 | $1984 | $1867 |
| Rent | $932 | $844 | $618 | $965 | $778 |
| Groceries | $121 | $98 | $129 | $136 | $281 |
| Dining out | $403 | $121 | $269 | $271 | $182 |
| Cafe | $45 | $25 | $32 | $37 | $49 |
| Coworking space | $213 | $95 | $151 | $164 | $159 |
| Mobile internet | $10 | $11 | $27 | $24 | $25 |
| Public transportation | $127 | $9 | $55 | $63 | $11 |
| Taxis | $48 | $9 | $21 | $27 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $24 | $14 | $49 | $18 | $24 |
| Sport and cultural events | $81 | $24 | $19 | $29 | $81 |
| Museums and sights | $33 | $4 | $15 | $24 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $112 | $23 | $43 | $47 | $64 |
| Gym | $81 | $14 | $36 | $65 | $69 |
| Yoga | $93 | $19 | $56 | $65 | $65 |
| Massage | $59 | $10 | $30 | $50 | $51 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Movistar | Movistar, Claro, Personal | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 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 | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services |
| Taxi apps | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | Uber, Bolt | Uber, FreeNow | Uber |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | 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 | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese |
| Local food specialities | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | 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 | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas |
| Eat like a local | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | 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 | Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 98 options on HappyCow | 79 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow |