Cape Town vs New York City vs Rio de Janeiro

Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 4,617,560 8,323,340 6,718,903
Official language(s) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English English (de facto) Portuguese
Level of English Very high Very high Low
Main airport Cape Town International Airport (CPT) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November January - March, December
Currency ZAR - South African Rand (R) USD - US Dollar ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No
Average monthly costs $1549 $5431 $1833
Rent $618 $2891 $1066
Groceries $129 $383 $95
Dining out $269 $656 $210
Cafe $32 $72 $25
Coworking space $151 $326 $130
Mobile internet $27 $45 $7
Public transportation $55 $220 $33
Taxis $21 $78 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $30 $16
Sport and cultural events $19 $100 $55
Museums and sights $15 $74 $26
Nightlife $43 $195 $54
Gym $36 $55 $31
Yoga $56 $197 $40
Massage $30 $109 $32
SIM card options MTN, Vodacom AT&T, Verizon Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Uber, Bolt Uber, Lyft Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. 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. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
Local food specialities Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 24 options on HappyCow 309 options on HappyCow 54 options on Happy Cow