Austin vs Bangkok vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Sofia

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 144,900 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Thai Turkish Greek Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low Low Low High High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December November - April April - June, September and October March - May, October - December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $974 $659 $1959 $1289
Rent $1650 $616 $274 $354 $678 $567
Groceries $243 $191 $169 $44 $157 $10
Dining out $396 $168 $108 $81 $261 $227
Cafe $66 $45 $45 $18 $56 $27
Coworking space $331 $127 $95 $49 $209 $140
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $3 $35 $10
Public transportation $110 $32 $60 $6 $63 $30
Taxis $73 $19 $20 $6 $42 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $10 $2 $45 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $8 $11 $28 $18
Museums and sights $11 $21 $8 $15 $8 $12
Nightlife $124 $50 $62 $22 $110 $82
Gym $62 $96 $41 $9 $107 $23
Yoga $139 $98 $55 $23 $105 $62
Massage $89 $11 $10 $15 $54 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Grab BiTaksi nTaxi TaxiMe, TaxiStars
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 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 Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. 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 Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants 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 Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 20 options on HappyCow