Austin vs Bangkok vs Barcelona vs Cape Town vs Playa del Carmen

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 5,585,556 4,617,560 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Catalan, Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish
Level of English Very high Low High Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December April - June, September - November March - May, September - November January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $2384 $1549 $2143
Rent $1650 $616 $932 $618 $923
Groceries $243 $191 $121 $129 $127
Dining out $396 $168 $403 $269 $207
Cafe $66 $45 $45 $32 $42
Coworking space $331 $127 $213 $151 $160
Mobile internet $40 $23 $10 $27 $21
Public transportation $110 $32 $127 $55 $17
Taxis $73 $19 $48 $21 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $24 $49 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $81 $19 $97
Museums and sights $11 $21 $33 $15 $217
Nightlife $124 $50 $112 $43 $77
Gym $62 $96 $81 $36 $42
Yoga $139 $98 $93 $56 $54
Massage $89 $11 $59 $30 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Vodafone, Movistar MTN, Vodacom Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Bolt N/A
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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 Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. 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. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 98 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow