|
Austin ๐บ๐ธ
|
Bangkok ๐น๐ญ
|
Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ
|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
|
| Population | 926,426 | 5,680,000 | 5,585,556 | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 144,900 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Thai | Catalan, Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Greek |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | High | Very high | Low | High |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | January - March, November, December | April - June, September - November | March - May, September - November | November - April | March - May, October - December |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1560 | $2384 | $1549 | $974 | $1959 |
| Rent | $1650 | $616 | $932 | $618 | $274 | $678 |
| Groceries | $243 | $191 | $121 | $129 | $169 | $157 |
| Dining out | $396 | $168 | $403 | $269 | $108 | $261 |
| Cafe | $66 | $45 | $45 | $32 | $45 | $56 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $127 | $213 | $151 | $95 | $209 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $23 | $10 | $27 | $11 | $35 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $32 | $127 | $55 | $60 | $63 |
| Taxis | $73 | $19 | $48 | $21 | $20 | $42 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $24 | $49 | $10 | $45 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $46 | $81 | $19 | $8 | $28 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $21 | $33 | $15 | $8 | $8 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $50 | $112 | $43 | $62 | $110 |
| Gym | $62 | $96 | $81 | $36 | $41 | $107 |
| Yoga | $139 | $98 | $93 | $56 | $55 | $105 |
| Massage | $89 | $11 | $59 | $30 | $10 | $54 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | AIS | Vodafone, Movistar | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Grab | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber, Bolt | Grab | nTaxi |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. | Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup | Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. | 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. | Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. |
| Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka |
| Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 98 options on HappyCow | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available |