Austin vs Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 2,900,000 4,617,560 1,166,978
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai
Level of English Very high High High Very high Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November September - December March - May, September - November November - April
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (฿)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places.
Remote worker visa No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $1321 $1549 $974
Rent $1650 $499 $844 $618 $274
Groceries $243 $108 $98 $129 $169
Dining out $396 $202 $121 $269 $108
Cafe $66 $29 $25 $32 $45
Coworking space $331 $120 $95 $151 $95
Mobile internet $40 $9 $11 $27 $11
Public transportation $110 $36 $9 $55 $60
Taxis $73 $27 $9 $21 $20
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $14 $49 $10
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $24 $19 $8
Museums and sights $11 $7 $4 $15 $8
Nightlife $124 $43 $23 $43 $62
Gym $62 $37 $14 $36 $41
Yoga $139 $48 $19 $56 $55
Massage $89 $26 $10 $30 $10
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt Grab
Tap water 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. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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. 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.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores 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
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas 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
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow