Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs New York City

Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 1,830,000 4,617,560 1,166,978 517,000 6,578,0179 8,323,340
Official language(s) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Portuguese Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English High Very high Low Very high Moderate Very high
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit April - October March - May, September - November November - April March - May, September, October March - May, September - November April - June, September - November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) 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 almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1549 $974 $1984 $2498 $5431
Rent $615 $618 $274 $965 $1174 $2891
Groceries $114 $129 $169 $136 $175 $383
Dining out $165 $269 $108 $271 $313 $656
Cafe $38 $32 $45 $37 $51 $72
Coworking space $133 $151 $95 $164 $196 $326
Mobile internet $7 $27 $11 $24 $10 $45
Public transportation $21 $55 $60 $63 $78 $220
Taxis $9 $21 $20 $27 $44 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $49 $10 $18 $49 $30
Sport and cultural events $29 $19 $8 $29 $54 $100
Museums and sights $29 $15 $8 $24 $20 $74
Nightlife $45 $43 $62 $47 $82 $195
Gym $30 $36 $41 $65 $44 $55
Yoga $59 $56 $55 $65 $142 $197
Massage $31 $30 $10 $50 $64 $109
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Grab Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Lyft
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries 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.
Local food specialities Sarmale, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi 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 Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana 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.
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow