Bangkok vs Budapest vs Cape Town vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Playa del Carmen

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Population 5,680,000 1,768,073 4,617,560 144,900 517,000 259,453
Official language(s) Thai Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Greek Portuguese Spanish
Level of English Low High Very high High Very high Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - June, September - November March - May, September - November March - May, October - December March - May, September, October January - May, October - December
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1560 $1230 $1549 $1959 $1984 $2143
Rent $616 $499 $618 $678 $965 $923
Groceries $191 $108 $129 $157 $136 $127
Dining out $168 $202 $269 $261 $271 $207
Cafe $45 $29 $32 $56 $37 $42
Coworking space $127 $120 $151 $209 $164 $160
Mobile internet $23 $9 $27 $35 $24 $21
Public transportation $32 $36 $55 $63 $63 $17
Taxis $19 $27 $21 $42 $27 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $13 $49 $45 $18 $49
Sport and cultural events $46 $24 $19 $28 $29 $97
Museums and sights $21 $7 $15 $8 $24 $217
Nightlife $50 $43 $43 $110 $47 $77
Gym $96 $37 $36 $107 $65 $42
Yoga $98 $48 $56 $105 $65 $54
Massage $11 $26 $30 $54 $50 $101
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Grab Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt nTaxi Uber, FreeNow N/A
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
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 Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
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 Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow