Bangkok ๐น๐ญ
|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
Population | 5,680,000 | 4,617,560 | 144,900 | 259,453 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Thai | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Greek | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Low | Very high | High | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | 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 | January - May, October - December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | 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 almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $1560 | $1549 | $1959 | $2143 | $1289 |
Rent | $616 | $618 | $678 | $923 | $567 |
Groceries | $191 | $129 | $157 | $127 | $10 |
Dining out | $168 | $269 | $261 | $207 | $227 |
Cafe | $45 | $32 | $56 | $42 | $27 |
Coworking space | $127 | $151 | $209 | $160 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $23 | $27 | $35 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $32 | $55 | $63 | $17 | $30 |
Taxis | $19 | $21 | $42 | $9 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $49 | $45 | $49 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $46 | $19 | $28 | $97 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $21 | $15 | $8 | $217 | $12 |
Nightlife | $50 | $43 | $110 | $77 | $82 |
Gym | $96 | $36 | $107 | $42 | $23 |
Yoga | $98 | $56 | $105 | $54 | $62 |
Massage | $11 | $30 | $54 | $101 | $29 |
SIM card options | AIS | MTN, Vodacom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | 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 | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Grab | Uber, Bolt | nTaxi | N/A | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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.. | 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 | 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. | 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 | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |