Bangkok vs Budapest vs Cape Town vs Hanoi vs Mexico City vs Rio de Janeiro

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 5,680,000 1,768,073 4,617,560 8,053,663 8,850,000 6,718,903
Official language(s) Thai Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Vietnamese Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Low High Very high Moderate Moderate Low
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - June, September - November March - May, September - November January, February, October - December March - May, October, November January - March, December
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1230 $1549 $1167 $1867 $1833
Rent $616 $499 $618 $503 $778 $1066
Groceries $191 $108 $129 $151 $281 $95
Dining out $168 $202 $269 $134 $182 $210
Cafe $45 $29 $32 $39 $49 $25
Coworking space $127 $120 $151 $72 $159 $130
Mobile internet $23 $9 $27 $4 $25 $7
Public transportation $32 $36 $55 $20 $11 $33
Taxis $19 $27 $21 $13 $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $13 $49 $0 $24 $16
Sport and cultural events $46 $24 $19 $3 $81 $55
Museums and sights $21 $7 $15 $4 $20 $26
Nightlife $50 $43 $43 $89 $64 $54
Gym $96 $37 $36 $57 $69 $31
Yoga $98 $48 $56 $57 $65 $40
Massage $11 $26 $30 $21 $51 $32
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom Viettel, Mobifone Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Grab Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt Grab, GoViet Uber Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup 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. A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) 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 47 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow