Austin vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Playa del Carmen vs Seoul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 926,426 4,617,560 1,166,978 259,453 9,963,452
Official language(s) English (de facto) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Spanish Korean
Level of English Very high Very high Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September - November November - April January - May, October - December March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (฿) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1549 $974 $2143 $2184
Rent $1650 $618 $274 $923 $797
Groceries $243 $129 $169 $127 $356
Dining out $396 $269 $108 $207 $211
Cafe $66 $32 $45 $42 $69
Coworking space $331 $151 $95 $160 $222
Mobile internet $40 $27 $11 $21 $40
Public transportation $110 $55 $60 $17 $40
Taxis $73 $21 $20 $9 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $49 $10 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $54 $19 $8 $97 $39
Museums and sights $11 $15 $8 $217 $6
Nightlife $124 $43 $62 $77 $93
Gym $62 $36 $41 $42 $69
Yoga $139 $56 $55 $54 $112
Massage $89 $30 $10 $101 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Telcel, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Bolt Grab N/A Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. 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 sautéed 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. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos 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 Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries 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 Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow