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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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| Population | 4,617,560 | 6,578,0179 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Moderate |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $1781 | $2827 |
| Rent | $710 | $1329 |
| Groceries | $148 | $198 |
| Dining out | $310 | $354 |
| Cafe | $37 | $58 |
| Coworking space | $173 | $222 |
| Mobile internet | $31 | $12 |
| Public transportation | $63 | $89 |
| Taxis | $24 | $50 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $56 | $56 |
| Sport and cultural events | $22 | $61 |
| Museums and sights | $17 | $22 |
| Nightlife | $50 | $93 |
| Gym | $41 | $50 |
| Yoga | $64 | $161 |
| Massage | $35 | $72 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
| Tap water | Not 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, 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 | 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 | 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 | 85 listings on Happy Cow |