Bangkok vs Berlin vs Cape Town vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Berlin ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 5,680,000 3,400,000 4,617,560 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low Very high Very high Moderate High
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December May - September March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $2200 $1549 $1867 $1289
Rent $616 $939 $618 $778 $567
Groceries $191 $188 $129 $281 $10
Dining out $168 $271 $269 $182 $227
Cafe $45 $57 $32 $49 $27
Coworking space $127 $174 $151 $159 $140
Mobile internet $23 $23 $27 $25 $10
Public transportation $32 $88 $55 $11 $30
Taxis $19 $58 $21 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $17 $49 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $46 $64 $19 $81 $18
Museums and sights $21 $37 $15 $20 $12
Nightlife $50 $63 $43 $64 $82
Gym $96 $66 $36 $69 $23
Yoga $98 $99 $56 $65 $62
Massage $11 $56 $30 $51 $29
SIM card options AIS Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Grab Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
Local food specialities Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Currywurst, spรคtzle, kรถnigsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow