Bangkok vs Barbados vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Madrid

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Barbados ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง
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Buenos Aires ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 5,680,000 110,000 2,900,000 4,617,560 6,578,0179
Official language(s) Thai English, Bajan Creole Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish
Level of English Low Very high High Very high Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December November - May September - December March - May, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1560 $2702 $1321 $1549 $2498
Rent $616 $1054 $844 $618 $1174
Groceries $191 $234 $98 $129 $175
Dining out $168 $345 $121 $269 $313
Cafe $45 $75 $25 $32 $51
Coworking space $127 $321 $95 $151 $196
Mobile internet $23 $49 $11 $27 $10
Public transportation $32 $35 $9 $55 $78
Taxis $19 $106 $9 $21 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $0 $14 $49 $49
Sport and cultural events $46 $37 $24 $19 $54
Museums and sights $21 $36 $4 $15 $20
Nightlife $50 $96 $23 $43 $82
Gym $96 $86 $14 $36 $44
Yoga $98 $130 $19 $56 $142
Massage $11 $99 $10 $30 $64
SIM card options AIS Digicel Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 10% at restaurants and cafรฉs is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Grab None available Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Bajan cuisine features an eclectic mix of European, Asian, and Caribbean styles resulting in bold, tasty and crunchy meat or fish dishes with lots of spices, lime juice, thyme and salads laden with local vegetables and hot side dishes. 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors.
Local food specialities Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafรฉs for matรฉ and facturas Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros!
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow