Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Population 5,680,000 4,617,560 1,166,978
Official language(s) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai
Level of English Low Very high Low
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - May, September - November November - April
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (฿)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places.
Remote worker visa No No No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1549 $974
Rent $616 $618 $274
Groceries $191 $129 $169
Dining out $168 $269 $108
Cafe $45 $32 $45
Coworking space $127 $151 $95
Mobile internet $23 $27 $11
Public transportation $32 $55 $60
Taxis $19 $21 $20
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $10
Sport and cultural events $46 $19 $8
Museums and sights $21 $15 $8
Nightlife $50 $43 $62
Gym $96 $36 $41
Yoga $98 $56 $55
Massage $11 $30 $10
SIM card options AIS MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere
Taxi apps Grab Uber, Bolt Grab
Tap water 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 sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables.
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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua
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 food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow