Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Larnaca vs New York City vs Playa del Carmen vs Sofia

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 5,680,000 4,617,560 144,900 8,323,340 259,453 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Greek English (de facto) Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low Very high High Very high Moderate High
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - May, September - November March - May, October - December April - June, September - November January - May, October - December April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) USD - US Dollar ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1549 $1959 $5431 $2143 $1289
Rent $616 $618 $678 $2891 $923 $567
Groceries $191 $129 $157 $383 $127 $10
Dining out $168 $269 $261 $656 $207 $227
Cafe $45 $32 $56 $72 $42 $27
Coworking space $127 $151 $209 $326 $160 $140
Mobile internet $23 $27 $35 $45 $21 $10
Public transportation $32 $55 $63 $220 $17 $30
Taxis $19 $21 $42 $78 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $45 $30 $49 $40
Sport and cultural events $46 $19 $28 $100 $97 $18
Museums and sights $21 $15 $8 $74 $217 $12
Nightlife $50 $43 $110 $195 $77 $82
Gym $96 $36 $107 $55 $42 $23
Yoga $98 $56 $105 $197 $54 $62
Massage $11 $30 $54 $109 $101 $29
SIM card options AIS MTN, Vodacom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN AT&T, Verizon Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
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 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10-15% for restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Grab Uber, Bolt nTaxi Uber, Lyft N/A TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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.. 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. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
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 Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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. Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
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 309 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow