Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs New York City vs Seoul

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Seoul ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 5,680,000 4,617,560 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 8,323,340 9,963,452
Official language(s) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Turkish Spanish English (de facto) Korean
Level of English Low Very high Low Low Moderate Very high Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - May, September - November November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November April - June, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) USD - US Dollar ($) KRW - South Korean won (โ‚ฉ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1549 $974 $659 $2498 $5431 $2184
Rent $616 $618 $274 $354 $1174 $2891 $797
Groceries $191 $129 $169 $44 $175 $383 $356
Dining out $168 $269 $108 $81 $313 $656 $211
Cafe $45 $32 $45 $18 $51 $72 $69
Coworking space $127 $151 $95 $49 $196 $326 $222
Mobile internet $23 $27 $11 $3 $10 $45 $40
Public transportation $32 $55 $60 $6 $78 $220 $40
Taxis $19 $21 $20 $6 $44 $78 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $10 $2 $49 $30 $13
Sport and cultural events $46 $19 $8 $11 $54 $100 $39
Museums and sights $21 $15 $8 $15 $20 $74 $6
Nightlife $50 $43 $62 $22 $82 $195 $93
Gym $96 $36 $41 $9 $44 $55 $69
Yoga $98 $56 $55 $23 $142 $197 $112
Massage $11 $30 $10 $15 $64 $109 $75
SIM card options AIS MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone AT&T, Verizon KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Grab Uber, Bolt Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Lyft Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable 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. 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
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 Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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! Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 57 options on Happy Cow