Austin vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Lisbon vs Mexico City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 4,617,560 1,166,978 517,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Portuguese Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high Low Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September - November November - April March - May, September, October March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1549 $974 $1984 $1867
Rent $1650 $618 $274 $965 $778
Groceries $243 $129 $169 $136 $281
Dining out $396 $269 $108 $271 $182
Cafe $66 $32 $45 $37 $49
Coworking space $331 $151 $95 $164 $159
Mobile internet $40 $27 $11 $24 $25
Public transportation $110 $55 $60 $63 $11
Taxis $73 $21 $20 $27 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $49 $10 $18 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $19 $8 $29 $81
Museums and sights $11 $15 $8 $24 $20
Nightlife $124 $43 $62 $47 $64
Gym $62 $36 $41 $65 $69
Yoga $139 $56 $55 $65 $65
Massage $89 $30 $10 $50 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Bolt Grab Uber, FreeNow Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos 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 Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana 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 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow