Cape Town vs Hanoi vs Lisbon vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen

Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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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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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 4,617,560 8,053,663 517,000 8,850,000 259,453
Official language(s) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Vietnamese Portuguese Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high Moderate Very high Moderate Moderate
Main airport Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January, February, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, October, November January - May, October - December
Currency ZAR - South African Rand (R) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1549 $1167 $1984 $1867 $2143
Rent $618 $503 $965 $778 $923
Groceries $129 $151 $136 $281 $127
Dining out $269 $134 $271 $182 $207
Cafe $32 $39 $37 $49 $42
Coworking space $151 $72 $164 $159 $160
Mobile internet $27 $4 $24 $25 $21
Public transportation $55 $20 $63 $11 $17
Taxis $21 $13 $27 $9 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $0 $18 $24 $49
Sport and cultural events $19 $3 $29 $81 $97
Museums and sights $15 $4 $24 $20 $217
Nightlife $43 $89 $47 $64 $77
Gym $36 $57 $65 $69 $42
Yoga $56 $57 $65 $65 $54
Massage $30 $21 $50 $51 $101
SIM card options MTN, Vodacom Viettel, Mobifone Vodafone Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up 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 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Bolt Grab, GoViet Uber, FreeNow Uber N/A
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. 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 Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
Local food specialities Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow 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 Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
Eat like a local Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 24 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow