|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
|
Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Lisbon ๐ต๐น
|
New York City ๐บ๐ธ
|
|
| Population | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 15,520,000 | 517,000 | 8,323,340 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Turkish | Portuguese | English (de facto) |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | Low | Very high | Very high |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | November - April | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October | April - June, September - November |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | USD - US Dollar ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $974 | $659 | $1984 | $5431 |
| Rent | $618 | $274 | $354 | $965 | $2891 |
| Groceries | $129 | $169 | $44 | $136 | $383 |
| Dining out | $269 | $108 | $81 | $271 | $656 |
| Cafe | $32 | $45 | $18 | $37 | $72 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $95 | $49 | $164 | $326 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $11 | $3 | $24 | $45 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $60 | $6 | $63 | $220 |
| Taxis | $21 | $20 | $6 | $27 | $78 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $10 | $2 | $18 | $30 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $8 | $11 | $29 | $100 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $15 | $24 | $74 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $62 | $22 | $47 | $195 |
| Gym | $36 | $41 | $9 | $65 | $55 |
| Yoga | $56 | $55 | $23 | $65 | $197 |
| Massage | $30 | $10 | $15 | $50 | $109 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone | AT&T, Verizon |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Grab | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Lyft |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | 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 fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. |
| 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Bacalhau ร bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. |
| 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 | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 309 options on HappyCow |