Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 5,680,000 4,617,560 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low Very high Very high Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) 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 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) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere 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 No Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1549 $1984 $2498 $1867 $1289
Rent $616 $618 $965 $1174 $778 $567
Groceries $191 $129 $136 $175 $281 $10
Dining out $168 $269 $271 $313 $182 $227
Cafe $45 $32 $37 $51 $49 $27
Coworking space $127 $151 $164 $196 $159 $140
Mobile internet $23 $27 $24 $10 $25 $10
Public transportation $32 $55 $63 $78 $11 $30
Taxis $19 $21 $27 $44 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $18 $49 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $46 $19 $29 $54 $81 $18
Museums and sights $21 $15 $24 $20 $20 $12
Nightlife $50 $43 $47 $82 $64 $82
Gym $96 $36 $65 $44 $69 $23
Yoga $98 $56 $65 $142 $65 $62
Massage $11 $30 $50 $64 $51 $29
SIM card options AIS MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 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 Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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 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 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 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow