Cape Town vs Madrid vs New York City vs Porto

	Cape Town 🇿🇦 Remove	Madrid 🇪🇸 Remove	New York City 🇺🇸 Remove	Porto 🇵🇹 Remove
Population	4,617,560	6,578,0179	8,323,340	237,559
Official language(s)	Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English	Spanish	English (de facto)	Portuguese
Level of English	Very high	Moderate	Very high	Very High
Main airport	Cape Town International Airport (CPT)	Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)	John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)	Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO)
Most common months to visit	March - May, September - November	March - May, September - November	April - June, September - November	May - September
Currency	ZAR - South African Rand (R)	EUR - Euro (€)	USD - US Dollar ($)	EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards	Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops	Accepted everywhere	Accepted everywhere	Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa	No	Yes	No	Yes
Average monthly costs	$1549	$2498	$5431	$1759
Rent	$618	$1174	$2891	$717
Groceries	$129	$175	$383	$148
Dining out	$269	$313	$656	$280
Cafe	$32	$51	$72	$45
Coworking space	$151	$196	$326	$96
Mobile internet	$27	$10	$45	$21
Public transportation	$55	$78	$220	$95
Taxis	$21	$44	$78	$25
Shared bicycles and scooters	$49	$49	$30	$10
Sport and cultural events	$19	$54	$100	$45
Museums and sights	$15	$20	$74	$24
Nightlife	$43	$82	$195	$66
Gym	$36	$44	$55	$56
Yoga	$56	$142	$197	$82
Massage	$30	$64	$109	$48
SIM card options	MTN, Vodacom	Orange, Movistar, Vodafone	AT&T, Verizon	Vodafone, MEO, NOS
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	5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars
Taxi apps	Uber, Bolt	Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now	Uber, Lyft	Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify
Tap water	Not drinkable	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, 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.	A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts.
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.	Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa
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	Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars
Vegetarian / vegan options	24 options on HappyCow	85 listings on Happy Cow	309 options on HappyCow	46 options on Happy Cow