|
Bangkok ๐น๐ญ
|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Lisbon ๐ต๐น
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
|
| Population | 5,680,000 | 4,617,560 | 144,900 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 259,453 |
| Official language(s) | Thai | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Greek | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Low | Very high | High | Very high | Moderate | Moderate |
| Main airport | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
| Most common months to visit | January - March, November, December | March - May, September - November | March - May, October - December | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | January - May, October - December |
| Currency | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $1560 | $1549 | $1959 | $1984 | $2498 | $2143 |
| Rent | $616 | $618 | $678 | $965 | $1174 | $923 |
| Groceries | $191 | $129 | $157 | $136 | $175 | $127 |
| Dining out | $168 | $269 | $261 | $271 | $313 | $207 |
| Cafe | $45 | $32 | $56 | $37 | $51 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $127 | $151 | $209 | $164 | $196 | $160 |
| Mobile internet | $23 | $27 | $35 | $24 | $10 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $32 | $55 | $63 | $63 | $78 | $17 |
| Taxis | $19 | $21 | $42 | $27 | $44 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $49 | $45 | $18 | $49 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $46 | $19 | $28 | $29 | $54 | $97 |
| Museums and sights | $21 | $15 | $8 | $24 | $20 | $217 |
| Nightlife | $50 | $43 | $110 | $47 | $82 | $77 |
| Gym | $96 | $36 | $107 | $65 | $44 | $42 |
| Yoga | $98 | $56 | $105 | $65 | $142 | $54 |
| Massage | $11 | $30 | $54 | $50 | $64 | $101 |
| SIM card options | AIS | MTN, Vodacom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | 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 | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Grab | Uber, Bolt | nTaxi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | N/A |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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. | 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 | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | 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 | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau ร bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole |
| 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 | 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 | 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! | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |