|
Bangkok ๐น๐ญ
|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
| Population | 5,680,000 | 4,617,560 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Thai | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Low | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Main airport | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | January - March, November, December | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1560 | $1549 | $2498 | $1867 | $1289 |
| Rent | $616 | $618 | $1174 | $778 | $567 |
| Groceries | $191 | $129 | $175 | $281 | $10 |
| Dining out | $168 | $269 | $313 | $182 | $227 |
| Cafe | $45 | $32 | $51 | $49 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $127 | $151 | $196 | $159 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $23 | $27 | $10 | $25 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $32 | $55 | $78 | $11 | $30 |
| Taxis | $19 | $21 | $44 | $9 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $49 | $49 | $24 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $46 | $19 | $54 | $81 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $21 | $15 | $20 | $20 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $50 | $43 | $82 | $64 | $82 |
| Gym | $96 | $36 | $44 | $69 | $23 |
| Yoga | $98 | $56 | $142 | $65 | $62 |
| Massage | $11 | $30 | $64 | $51 | $29 |
| SIM card options | AIS | MTN, Vodacom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
| Taxi apps | Grab | Uber, Bolt | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup | 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. | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | 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 | Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
| Eat like a local | Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! | 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 | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |