Buenos Aires ๐ฆ๐ท
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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Da Nang ๐ป๐ณ
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐ง๐ท
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 2,900,000 | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 1,125,316 | 8,850,000 | 259,453 | 6,718,903 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Vietnamese | Spanish | Spanish | Portuguese | Bulgarian |
Level of English | High | Very high | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Low | High |
Main airport | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Da Nang International Airport (DAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Galeรฃo International Airport | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | September - December | March - May, September - November | November - April | February - May | March - May, October, November | January - May, October - December | January - March, December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | VND - Vietnamese Dong (โซ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in some places. Cash also needed. | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $1321 | $1549 | $974 | $959 | $1867 | $2143 | $1833 | $1289 |
Rent | $844 | $618 | $274 | $316 | $778 | $923 | $1066 | $567 |
Groceries | $98 | $129 | $169 | $161 | $281 | $127 | $95 | $10 |
Dining out | $121 | $269 | $108 | $128 | $182 | $207 | $210 | $227 |
Cafe | $25 | $32 | $45 | $35 | $49 | $42 | $25 | $27 |
Coworking space | $95 | $151 | $95 | $88 | $159 | $160 | $130 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $11 | $27 | $11 | $4 | $25 | $21 | $7 | $10 |
Public transportation | $9 | $55 | $60 | $15 | $11 | $17 | $33 | $30 |
Taxis | $9 | $21 | $20 | $15 | $9 | $9 | $14 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $14 | $49 | $10 | $0 | $24 | $49 | $16 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $24 | $19 | $8 | $6 | $81 | $97 | $55 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $4 | $15 | $8 | $2 | $20 | $217 | $26 | $12 |
Nightlife | $23 | $43 | $62 | $74 | $64 | $77 | $54 | $82 |
Gym | $14 | $36 | $41 | $34 | $69 | $42 | $31 | $23 |
Yoga | $19 | $56 | $55 | $71 | $65 | $54 | $40 | $62 |
Massage | $10 | $30 | $10 | $10 | $51 | $101 | $32 | $29 |
SIM card options | Movistar, Claro, Personal | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Viettel, Vinafone | Telcel, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | Tim, Claro, Vivo | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
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 | 5-15% in restaurants, round up at bars and cafes | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | Uber, Bolt | Grab | Grab | Uber | N/A | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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. | Healthy and with robust flavors, Vietnamese cuisine combines noodles and rice with a variety of greens and local herbs to compliment specially seasoned pork, beef or seafood dishes. In Da Nang, you'll find a strong emphasis on barbecued seafood dishes as well as fish-based sauces. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. | 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 | 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 | Chao Tom, Bahn Xeo, Goi Cuon, Bun Thit Nuong, Bahn Cuon, Mi Quang, Bun nam, Bun cha ca | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
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 | Smaller, local restaurants, roadside eateries, street food stalls and local markets | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 79 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 107 options on HappyCow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 54 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |