Bangkok vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Seoul

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Seoul ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 5,680,000 1,830,000 4,617,560 517,000 6,578,0179 9,963,452
Official language(s) Thai Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish Korean
Level of English Low High Very high Very high Moderate Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December April - October March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) KRW - South Korean won (โ‚ฉ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1351 $1549 $1984 $2498 $2184
Rent $616 $615 $618 $965 $1174 $797
Groceries $191 $114 $129 $136 $175 $356
Dining out $168 $165 $269 $271 $313 $211
Cafe $45 $38 $32 $37 $51 $69
Coworking space $127 $133 $151 $164 $196 $222
Mobile internet $23 $7 $27 $24 $10 $40
Public transportation $32 $21 $55 $63 $78 $40
Taxis $19 $9 $21 $27 $44 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $25 $49 $18 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $46 $29 $19 $29 $54 $39
Museums and sights $21 $29 $15 $24 $20 $6
Nightlife $50 $45 $43 $47 $82 $93
Gym $96 $30 $36 $65 $44 $69
Yoga $98 $59 $56 $65 $142 $112
Massage $11 $31 $30 $50 $64 $75
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 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 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Grab Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup 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. 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. 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 Sarmale, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow 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 Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets 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! Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow