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

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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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 4,617,560 1,166,978 517,000 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Portuguese Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low Very high Moderate High
Main airport Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - April March - May, September, October March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1549 $974 $1984 $1867 $1289
Rent $618 $274 $965 $778 $567
Groceries $129 $169 $136 $281 $10
Dining out $269 $108 $271 $182 $227
Cafe $32 $45 $37 $49 $27
Coworking space $151 $95 $164 $159 $140
Mobile internet $27 $11 $24 $25 $10
Public transportation $55 $60 $63 $11 $30
Taxis $21 $20 $27 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $10 $18 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $19 $8 $29 $81 $18
Museums and sights $15 $8 $24 $20 $12
Nightlife $43 $62 $47 $64 $82
Gym $36 $41 $65 $69 $23
Yoga $56 $55 $65 $65 $62
Massage $30 $10 $50 $51 $29
SIM card options MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Bolt Grab Uber, FreeNow Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow