Bangkok ๐น๐ญ
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Barbados ๐ง๐ง
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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Lisbon ๐ต๐น
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Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 5,680,000 | 110,000 | 4,617,560 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Thai | English, Bajan Creole | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Low | Very high | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | January - March, November, December | November - May | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | April-June, September-October |
Currency | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $1560 | $2702 | $1549 | $1984 | $2498 | $1867 | $1289 |
Rent | $616 | $1054 | $618 | $965 | $1174 | $778 | $567 |
Groceries | $191 | $234 | $129 | $136 | $175 | $281 | $10 |
Dining out | $168 | $345 | $269 | $271 | $313 | $182 | $227 |
Cafe | $45 | $75 | $32 | $37 | $51 | $49 | $27 |
Coworking space | $127 | $321 | $151 | $164 | $196 | $159 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $23 | $49 | $27 | $24 | $10 | $25 | $10 |
Public transportation | $32 | $35 | $55 | $63 | $78 | $11 | $30 |
Taxis | $19 | $106 | $21 | $27 | $44 | $9 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $0 | $49 | $18 | $49 | $24 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $46 | $37 | $19 | $29 | $54 | $81 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $21 | $36 | $15 | $24 | $20 | $20 | $12 |
Nightlife | $50 | $96 | $43 | $47 | $82 | $64 | $82 |
Gym | $96 | $86 | $36 | $65 | $44 | $69 | $23 |
Yoga | $98 | $130 | $56 | $65 | $142 | $65 | $62 |
Massage | $11 | $99 | $30 | $50 | $64 | $51 | $29 |
SIM card options | AIS | Digicel | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Grab | None available | Uber, Bolt | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup | Bajan cuisine features an eclectic mix of European, Asian, and Caribbean styles resulting in bold, tasty and crunchy meat or fish dishes with lots of spices, lime juice, thyme and salads laden with local vegetables and hot side dishes. | 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. | 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. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | 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 | Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | 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 | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
Eat like a local | Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants | Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | 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! | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow | 24 options on HappyCow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |