Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs New York City

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 5,680,000 4,617,560 8,053,663 15,520,000 6,578,0179 8,323,340
Official language(s) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Vietnamese Turkish Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English Low Very high Moderate Low Moderate Very high
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - May, September - November January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, September - November April - June, September - November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1549 $1167 $659 $2498 $5431
Rent $616 $618 $503 $354 $1174 $2891
Groceries $191 $129 $151 $44 $175 $383
Dining out $168 $269 $134 $81 $313 $656
Cafe $45 $32 $39 $18 $51 $72
Coworking space $127 $151 $72 $49 $196 $326
Mobile internet $23 $27 $4 $3 $10 $45
Public transportation $32 $55 $20 $6 $78 $220
Taxis $19 $21 $13 $6 $44 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $0 $2 $49 $30
Sport and cultural events $46 $19 $3 $11 $54 $100
Museums and sights $21 $15 $4 $15 $20 $74
Nightlife $50 $43 $89 $22 $82 $195
Gym $96 $36 $57 $9 $44 $55
Yoga $98 $56 $57 $23 $142 $197
Massage $11 $30 $21 $15 $64 $109
SIM card options AIS MTN, Vodacom Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Grab Uber, Bolt Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Lyft
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup 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 sautรฉed 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
Local food specialities Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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! Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow