Austin vs Bangkok vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 10,978,360 1,830,000 1,166,978 15,520,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Spanish Romanian Thai Turkish
Level of English Very high Low Low High Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December January - March, December April - October November - April April - June, September and October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1097 $1351 $974 $659
Rent $1650 $616 $480 $615 $274 $354
Groceries $243 $191 $82 $114 $169 $44
Dining out $396 $168 $174 $165 $108 $81
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $38 $45 $18
Coworking space $331 $127 $77 $133 $95 $49
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $7 $11 $3
Public transportation $110 $32 $23 $21 $60 $6
Taxis $73 $19 $28 $9 $20 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $17 $25 $10 $2
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $22 $29 $8 $11
Museums and sights $11 $21 $7 $29 $8 $15
Nightlife $124 $50 $46 $45 $62 $22
Gym $62 $96 $15 $30 $41 $9
Yoga $139 $98 $57 $59 $55 $23
Massage $89 $11 $37 $31 $10 $15
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC 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 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi
Tap water 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. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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
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 Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua 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. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow