Austin vs Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Mexico City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 4,617,560 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December March - May, September - November March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1549 $1867
Rent $1650 $616 $618 $778
Groceries $243 $191 $129 $281
Dining out $396 $168 $269 $182
Cafe $66 $45 $32 $49
Coworking space $331 $127 $151 $159
Mobile internet $40 $23 $27 $25
Public transportation $110 $32 $55 $11
Taxis $73 $19 $21 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $49 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $19 $81
Museums and sights $11 $21 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $50 $43 $64
Gym $62 $96 $36 $69
Yoga $139 $98 $56 $65
Massage $89 $11 $30 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS MTN, Vodacom Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Uber, Bolt Uber
Tap water 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 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. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 279 listings on Happy Cow