Bangkok vs Berlin vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Medellin vs Sofia

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 5,680,000 3,400,000 1,830,000 4,617,560 2,427,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai German Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low Very high High Very high Low High
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December May - September April - October March - May, September - November January - April, December April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) COP - Colombian Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $1560 $2200 $1351 $1549 $1293 $1289
Rent $616 $939 $615 $618 $732 $567
Groceries $191 $188 $114 $129 $87 $10
Dining out $168 $271 $165 $269 $131 $227
Cafe $45 $57 $38 $32 $18 $27
Coworking space $127 $174 $133 $151 $96 $140
Mobile internet $23 $23 $7 $27 $16 $10
Public transportation $32 $88 $21 $55 $21 $30
Taxis $19 $58 $9 $21 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $17 $25 $49 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $46 $64 $29 $19 $8 $18
Museums and sights $21 $37 $29 $15 $9 $12
Nightlife $50 $63 $45 $43 $73 $82
Gym $96 $66 $30 $36 $15 $23
Yoga $98 $99 $59 $56 $54 $62
Massage $11 $56 $31 $30 $20 $29
SIM card options AIS Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Claro, Tigo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 10% in restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Grab Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt EasyTaxi TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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. A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
Local food specialities Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 844 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 153 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow