Bangkok vs Hanoi vs Madrid vs New York City vs Playa del Carmen vs Seoul

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Seoul ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 5,680,000 8,053,663 6,578,0179 8,323,340 259,453 9,963,452
Official language(s) Thai Vietnamese Spanish English (de facto) Spanish Korean
Level of English Low Moderate Moderate Very high Moderate Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December January, February, October - December March - May, September - November April - June, September - November January - May, October - December March - May, September - November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) USD - US Dollar ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (โ‚ฉ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1167 $2498 $5431 $2143 $2184
Rent $616 $503 $1174 $2891 $923 $797
Groceries $191 $151 $175 $383 $127 $356
Dining out $168 $134 $313 $656 $207 $211
Cafe $45 $39 $51 $72 $42 $69
Coworking space $127 $72 $196 $326 $160 $222
Mobile internet $23 $4 $10 $45 $21 $40
Public transportation $32 $20 $78 $220 $17 $40
Taxis $19 $13 $44 $78 $9 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $0 $49 $30 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $46 $3 $54 $100 $97 $39
Museums and sights $21 $4 $20 $74 $217 $6
Nightlife $50 $89 $82 $195 $77 $93
Gym $96 $57 $44 $55 $42 $69
Yoga $98 $57 $142 $197 $54 $112
Massage $11 $21 $64 $109 $101 $75
SIM card options AIS Viettel, Mobifone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone AT&T, Verizon Telcel, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10-15% for restaurants Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Grab Grab, GoViet Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Lyft N/A Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. 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. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads 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. Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food 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 Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 104 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow