Austin vs Bangkok vs Bogota vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Istanbul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 10,978,360 4,617,560 1,166,978 8,053,663 15,520,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Vietnamese Turkish
Level of English Very high Low Low Very high Low Moderate Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December January - March, December March - May, September - November November - April January, February, October - December April - June, September and October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) COP - Colombian Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (฿) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1097 $1549 $974 $1167 $659
Rent $1650 $616 $480 $618 $274 $503 $354
Groceries $243 $191 $82 $129 $169 $151 $44
Dining out $396 $168 $174 $269 $108 $134 $81
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $32 $45 $39 $18
Coworking space $331 $127 $77 $151 $95 $72 $49
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $27 $11 $4 $3
Public transportation $110 $32 $23 $55 $60 $20 $6
Taxis $73 $19 $28 $21 $20 $13 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $17 $49 $10 $0 $2
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $22 $19 $8 $3 $11
Museums and sights $11 $21 $7 $15 $8 $4 $15
Nightlife $124 $50 $46 $43 $62 $89 $22
Gym $62 $96 $15 $36 $41 $57 $9
Yoga $139 $98 $57 $56 $55 $57 $23
Massage $89 $11 $37 $30 $10 $21 $15
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Tigo, Movistar, Claro MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Uber, Cabify Uber, Bolt Grab Grab, GoViet BiTaksi
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. 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. 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. 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 Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow