Bangkok vs Bogota vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Mexico City

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 5,680,000 10,978,360 4,617,560 15,520,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) Thai Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish
Level of English Low Low Very high Low Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December January - March, December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) COP - Colombian Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1560 $1097 $1549 $659 $1867
Rent $616 $480 $618 $354 $778
Groceries $191 $82 $129 $44 $281
Dining out $168 $174 $269 $81 $182
Cafe $45 $22 $32 $18 $49
Coworking space $127 $77 $151 $49 $159
Mobile internet $23 $11 $27 $3 $25
Public transportation $32 $23 $55 $6 $11
Taxis $19 $28 $21 $6 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $17 $49 $2 $24
Sport and cultural events $46 $22 $19 $11 $81
Museums and sights $21 $7 $15 $15 $20
Nightlife $50 $46 $43 $22 $64
Gym $96 $15 $36 $9 $69
Yoga $98 $57 $56 $23 $65
Massage $11 $37 $30 $15 $51
SIM card options AIS Tigo, Movistar, Claro MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Grab Uber, Cabify Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. 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 fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow