Cape Town vs Madrid vs New York City vs Panama City

	Cape Town 🇿🇦 Remove	Madrid 🇪🇸 Remove	New York City 🇺🇸 Remove	Panama City 🇵🇦 Remove
Population	4,617,560	6,578,0179	8,323,340	880,691
Official language(s)	Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English	Spanish	English (de facto)	Spanish
Level of English	Very high	Moderate	Very high	Low
Main airport	Cape Town International Airport (CPT)	Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)	John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)	Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Most common months to visit	March - May, September - November	March - May, September - November	April - June, September - November	December - April
Currency	ZAR - South African Rand (R)	EUR - Euro (€)	USD - US Dollar ($)	PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.)
Credit cards	Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops	Accepted everywhere	Accepted everywhere	Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops.
Remote worker visa	No	Yes	No	Yes
Average monthly costs	$1549	$2498	$5431	$2359
Rent	$618	$1174	$2891	$1036
Groceries	$129	$175	$383	$236
Dining out	$269	$313	$656	$371
Cafe	$32	$51	$72	$43
Coworking space	$151	$196	$326	$157
Mobile internet	$27	$10	$45	$21
Public transportation	$55	$78	$220	$12
Taxis	$21	$44	$78	$48
Shared bicycles and scooters	$49	$49	$30	$0
Sport and cultural events	$19	$54	$100	$35
Museums and sights	$15	$20	$74	$9
Nightlife	$43	$82	$195	$117
Gym	$36	$44	$55	$37
Yoga	$56	$142	$197	$163
Massage	$30	$64	$109	$75
SIM card options	MTN, Vodacom	Orange, Movistar, Vodafone	AT&T, Verizon	Claro, Movistar
Tipping	10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere	Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.	15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars	10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps	Uber, Bolt	Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now	Uber, Lyft	Uber, Tu Chofer
Tap water	Not drinkable	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 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.	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.	Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine.
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	Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.	Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja
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!	Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants	Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks
Vegetarian / vegan options	24 options on HappyCow	85 listings on Happy Cow	309 options on HappyCow	7 options on HappyCow