Bangkok vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Madrid

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 5,680,000 1,830,000 1,768,073 4,617,560 517,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) Thai Romanian Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish
Level of English Low High High Very high Very high Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December April - October March - June, September - November March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1560 $1351 $1230 $1549 $1984 $2498
Rent $616 $615 $499 $618 $965 $1174
Groceries $191 $114 $108 $129 $136 $175
Dining out $168 $165 $202 $269 $271 $313
Cafe $45 $38 $29 $32 $37 $51
Coworking space $127 $133 $120 $151 $164 $196
Mobile internet $23 $7 $9 $27 $24 $10
Public transportation $32 $21 $36 $55 $63 $78
Taxis $19 $9 $27 $21 $27 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $25 $13 $49 $18 $49
Sport and cultural events $46 $29 $24 $19 $29 $54
Museums and sights $21 $29 $7 $15 $24 $20
Nightlife $50 $45 $43 $43 $47 $82
Gym $96 $30 $37 $36 $65 $44
Yoga $98 $59 $48 $56 $65 $142
Massage $11 $31 $26 $30 $50 $64
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
Tipping 10% for restaurants, 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 and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Grab Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries 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 Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow