Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs New York City

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Population 5,680,000 4,617,560 1,166,978 8,323,340
Official language(s) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai English (de facto)
Level of English Low Very high Low Very high
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - May, September - November November - April April - June, September - November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (฿) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1549 $974 $5431
Rent $616 $618 $274 $2891
Groceries $191 $129 $169 $383
Dining out $168 $269 $108 $656
Cafe $45 $32 $45 $72
Coworking space $127 $151 $95 $326
Mobile internet $23 $27 $11 $45
Public transportation $32 $55 $60 $220
Taxis $19 $21 $20 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $10 $30
Sport and cultural events $46 $19 $8 $100
Museums and sights $21 $15 $8 $74
Nightlife $50 $43 $62 $195
Gym $96 $36 $41 $55
Yoga $98 $56 $55 $197
Massage $11 $30 $10 $109
SIM card options AIS MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Grab Uber, Bolt Grab Uber, Lyft
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 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. 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.
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 Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
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 Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 309 options on HappyCow