Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs New York City

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Medellin ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 5,680,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 2,427,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English Low Very high Low Low Very high
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Josรฉ Marรญa Cรณrdova International Airport (MDE) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December April - June, September - November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) COP - Colombian Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1549 $659 $1293 $5431
Rent $616 $618 $354 $732 $2891
Groceries $191 $129 $44 $87 $383
Dining out $168 $269 $81 $131 $656
Cafe $45 $32 $18 $18 $72
Coworking space $127 $151 $49 $96 $326
Mobile internet $23 $27 $3 $16 $45
Public transportation $32 $55 $6 $21 $220
Taxis $19 $21 $6 $14 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $0 $30
Sport and cultural events $46 $19 $11 $8 $100
Museums and sights $21 $15 $15 $9 $74
Nightlife $50 $43 $22 $73 $195
Gym $96 $36 $9 $15 $55
Yoga $98 $56 $23 $54 $197
Massage $11 $30 $15 $20 $109
SIM card options AIS MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Grab Uber, Bolt BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber, Lyft
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats 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 Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food 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 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow