|
Austin 🇺🇸
|
Bangkok 🇹ðŸ‡
|
Barcelona 🇪🇸
|
Chiang Mai 🇹ðŸ‡
|
Istanbul 🇹🇷
|
Madrid 🇪🇸
|
Medellin 🇨🇴
|
|
| Population | 926,426 | 5,680,000 | 5,585,556 | 1,166,978 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 2,427,000 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Thai | Catalan, Spanish | Thai | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | High | Low | Low | Moderate | Low |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | January - March, November, December | April - June, September - November | November - April | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | January - April, December |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | THB - Thai Baht (฿) | EUR - Euro (€) | THB - Thai Baht (฿) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1560 | $2384 | $974 | $659 | $2498 | $1293 |
| Rent | $1650 | $616 | $932 | $274 | $354 | $1174 | $732 |
| Groceries | $243 | $191 | $121 | $169 | $44 | $175 | $87 |
| Dining out | $396 | $168 | $403 | $108 | $81 | $313 | $131 |
| Cafe | $66 | $45 | $45 | $45 | $18 | $51 | $18 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $127 | $213 | $95 | $49 | $196 | $96 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $23 | $10 | $11 | $3 | $10 | $16 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $32 | $127 | $60 | $6 | $78 | $21 |
| Taxis | $73 | $19 | $48 | $20 | $6 | $44 | $14 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $24 | $10 | $2 | $49 | $0 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $46 | $81 | $8 | $11 | $54 | $8 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $21 | $33 | $8 | $15 | $20 | $9 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $50 | $112 | $62 | $22 | $82 | $73 |
| Gym | $62 | $96 | $81 | $41 | $9 | $44 | $15 |
| Yoga | $139 | $98 | $93 | $55 | $23 | $142 | $54 |
| Massage | $89 | $11 | $59 | $10 | $15 | $64 | $20 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | AIS | Vodafone, Movistar | AIS, DTAC | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Tigo |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | Tip 10% in restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Grab | Cabify, FreeNow | Grab | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | EasyTaxi |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. | Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup | Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. | 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, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats |
| Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa |
| Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | 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 | 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! | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 98 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow |