Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Lisbon

Buenos Aires ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท
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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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Population 2,900,000 4,617,560 1,166,978 517,000
Official language(s) Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Portuguese
Level of English High Very high Low Very high
Main airport Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
Most common months to visit September - December March - May, September - November November - April March - May, September, October
Currency ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1321 $1549 $974 $1984
Rent $844 $618 $274 $965
Groceries $98 $129 $169 $136
Dining out $121 $269 $108 $271
Cafe $25 $32 $45 $37
Coworking space $95 $151 $95 $164
Mobile internet $11 $27 $11 $24
Public transportation $9 $55 $60 $63
Taxis $9 $21 $20 $27
Shared bicycles and scooters $14 $49 $10 $18
Sport and cultural events $24 $19 $8 $29
Museums and sights $4 $15 $8 $24
Nightlife $23 $43 $62 $47
Gym $14 $36 $41 $65
Yoga $19 $56 $55 $65
Massage $10 $30 $10 $50
SIM card options Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Vodafone
Tipping 10% at restaurants and cafรฉs is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt Grab Uber, FreeNow
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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
Local food specialities Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores 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
Eat like a local Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafรฉs for matรฉ and facturas 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
Vegetarian / vegan options 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow