Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Larnaca vs Playa del Carmen vs Seoul

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 5,680,000 4,617,560 144,900 259,453 9,963,452
Official language(s) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Greek Spanish Korean
Level of English Low Very high High Moderate Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - May, September - November March - May, October - December January - May, October - December March - May, September - November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1549 $1959 $2143 $2184
Rent $616 $618 $678 $923 $797
Groceries $191 $129 $157 $127 $356
Dining out $168 $269 $261 $207 $211
Cafe $45 $32 $56 $42 $69
Coworking space $127 $151 $209 $160 $222
Mobile internet $23 $27 $35 $21 $40
Public transportation $32 $55 $63 $17 $40
Taxis $19 $21 $42 $9 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $45 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $46 $19 $28 $97 $39
Museums and sights $21 $15 $8 $217 $6
Nightlife $50 $43 $110 $77 $93
Gym $96 $36 $107 $42 $69
Yoga $98 $56 $105 $54 $112
Massage $11 $30 $54 $101 $75
SIM card options AIS MTN, Vodacom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Telcel, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
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 10-15% for restaurants Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Grab Uber, Bolt nTaxi N/A Uber, Kakao
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 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.. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
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 Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
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. Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
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 72 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow