Austin vs Bangkok vs Bogota vs Cape Town vs Medellin vs New York City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Bogota ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Medellin ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 10,978,360 4,617,560 2,427,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English Very high Low Low Very high Low Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Josรฉ Marรญa Cรณrdova International Airport (MDE) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December January - March, December March - May, September - November January - April, December April - June, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) COP - Colombian Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) COP - Colombian Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1097 $1549 $1293 $5431
Rent $1650 $616 $480 $618 $732 $2891
Groceries $243 $191 $82 $129 $87 $383
Dining out $396 $168 $174 $269 $131 $656
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $32 $18 $72
Coworking space $331 $127 $77 $151 $96 $326
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $27 $16 $45
Public transportation $110 $32 $23 $55 $21 $220
Taxis $73 $19 $28 $21 $14 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $17 $49 $0 $30
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $22 $19 $8 $100
Museums and sights $11 $21 $7 $15 $9 $74
Nightlife $124 $50 $46 $43 $73 $195
Gym $62 $96 $15 $36 $15 $55
Yoga $139 $98 $57 $56 $54 $197
Massage $89 $11 $37 $30 $20 $109
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Tigo, Movistar, Claro MTN, Vodacom Claro, Tigo AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 10% in restaurants 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Uber, Cabify Uber, Bolt EasyTaxi Uber, Lyft
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. 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. A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats 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.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buรฑuelos, patacones, tรฉ de coca, changua Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menรบ del dรญa. Community markets and sports bars. Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 153 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow