Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Medellin vs Playa del Carmen vs Rio de Janeiro

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Medellin ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 5,680,000 4,617,560 2,427,000 259,453 6,718,903
Official language(s) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Low Very high Low Moderate Low
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Josรฉ Marรญa Cรณrdova International Airport (MDE) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - May, September - November January - April, December January - May, October - December January - March, December
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in some places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1549 $1293 $2143 $1833
Rent $616 $618 $732 $923 $1066
Groceries $191 $129 $87 $127 $95
Dining out $168 $269 $131 $207 $210
Cafe $45 $32 $18 $42 $25
Coworking space $127 $151 $96 $160 $130
Mobile internet $23 $27 $16 $21 $7
Public transportation $32 $55 $21 $17 $33
Taxis $19 $21 $14 $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $0 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $46 $19 $8 $97 $55
Museums and sights $21 $15 $9 $217 $26
Nightlife $50 $43 $73 $77 $54
Gym $96 $36 $15 $42 $31
Yoga $98 $56 $54 $54 $40
Massage $11 $30 $20 $101 $32
SIM card options AIS MTN, Vodacom Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Grab Uber, Bolt EasyTaxi N/A Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
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. A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
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 Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
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 Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 153 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow