Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Lisbon vs Mexico City

Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 4,617,560 1,166,978 8,053,663 517,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Vietnamese Portuguese Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Moderate Very high Moderate
Main airport Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - April January, February, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, October, November
Currency ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1549 $974 $1167 $1984 $1867
Rent $618 $274 $503 $965 $778
Groceries $129 $169 $151 $136 $281
Dining out $269 $108 $134 $271 $182
Cafe $32 $45 $39 $37 $49
Coworking space $151 $95 $72 $164 $159
Mobile internet $27 $11 $4 $24 $25
Public transportation $55 $60 $20 $63 $11
Taxis $21 $20 $13 $27 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $10 $0 $18 $24
Sport and cultural events $19 $8 $3 $29 $81
Museums and sights $15 $8 $4 $24 $20
Nightlife $43 $62 $89 $47 $64
Gym $36 $41 $57 $65 $69
Yoga $56 $55 $57 $65 $65
Massage $30 $10 $21 $50 $51
SIM card options MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Bolt Grab Grab, GoViet Uber, FreeNow Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall 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. A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local 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 Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow