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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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| Population | 4,617,560 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Very high | Moderate |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $1984 | $2498 |
| Rent | $618 | $965 | $1174 |
| Groceries | $129 | $136 | $175 |
| Dining out | $269 | $271 | $313 |
| Cafe | $32 | $37 | $51 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $164 | $196 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $24 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $63 | $78 |
| Taxis | $21 | $27 | $44 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $18 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $29 | $54 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $24 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $47 | $82 |
| Gym | $36 | $65 | $44 |
| Yoga | $56 | $65 | $142 |
| Massage | $30 | $50 | $64 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable |
| Overall 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 sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | 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 | 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 | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros |
| Eat like a local | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | 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 | 24 options on HappyCow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |