Austin vs Bangkok vs Budapest vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Mexico City

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 1,768,073 8,053,663 15,520,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Hungarian Vietnamese Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high Low High Moderate Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December March - June, September - November January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1230 $1167 $659 $1867
Rent $1650 $616 $499 $503 $354 $778
Groceries $243 $191 $108 $151 $44 $281
Dining out $396 $168 $202 $134 $81 $182
Cafe $66 $45 $29 $39 $18 $49
Coworking space $331 $127 $120 $72 $49 $159
Mobile internet $40 $23 $9 $4 $3 $25
Public transportation $110 $32 $36 $20 $6 $11
Taxis $73 $19 $27 $13 $6 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $13 $0 $2 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $24 $3 $11 $81
Museums and sights $11 $21 $7 $4 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $50 $43 $89 $22 $64
Gym $62 $96 $37 $57 $9 $69
Yoga $139 $98 $48 $57 $23 $65
Massage $89 $11 $26 $21 $15 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Vodafone, Telenor Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Bolt, Fotaxi Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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 Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow