Bangkok vs Barcelona vs Cape Town vs Larnaca vs Rio de Janeiro

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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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 5,680,000 5,585,556 4,617,560 144,900 6,718,903
Official language(s) Thai Catalan, Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Greek Portuguese
Level of English Low High Very high High Low
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December April - June, September - November March - May, September - November March - May, October - December January - March, December
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $1560 $2384 $1549 $1959 $1833
Rent $616 $932 $618 $678 $1066
Groceries $191 $121 $129 $157 $95
Dining out $168 $403 $269 $261 $210
Cafe $45 $45 $32 $56 $25
Coworking space $127 $213 $151 $209 $130
Mobile internet $23 $10 $27 $35 $7
Public transportation $32 $127 $55 $63 $33
Taxis $19 $48 $21 $42 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $24 $49 $45 $16
Sport and cultural events $46 $81 $19 $28 $55
Museums and sights $21 $33 $15 $8 $26
Nightlife $50 $112 $43 $110 $54
Gym $96 $81 $36 $107 $31
Yoga $98 $93 $56 $105 $40
Massage $11 $59 $30 $54 $32
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Movistar MTN, Vodacom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 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% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Grab Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Bolt nTaxi Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine 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. Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
Local food specialities 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 Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local 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 Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 98 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 54 options on Happy Cow