Austin vs Bangkok vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Medellin vs Tbilisi vs Ubud

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Ubud 🇮🇩
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 2,427,000 1,108,700 112,490
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Thai Turkish Spanish Spanish Georgian Indonesian and Balinese
Level of English Very high Low Low Low Moderate Low Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPA)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November January - April, December March - June May - October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) GEL - Georgian Lari (₾) IDR - Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $974 $659 $2498 $1293 $1462 $1363
Rent $1650 $616 $274 $354 $1174 $732 $752 $658
Groceries $243 $191 $169 $44 $175 $87 $112 $150
Dining out $396 $168 $108 $81 $313 $131 $169 $10
Cafe $66 $45 $45 $18 $51 $18 $45 $28
Coworking space $331 $127 $95 $49 $196 $96 $125 $106
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $3 $10 $16 $4 $3
Public transportation $110 $32 $60 $6 $78 $21 $8 $53
Taxis $73 $19 $20 $6 $44 $14 $14 $13
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $10 $2 $49 $0 $27 $33
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $8 $11 $54 $8 $21 $14
Museums and sights $11 $21 $8 $15 $20 $9 $9 $9
Nightlife $124 $50 $62 $22 $82 $73 $53 $118
Gym $62 $96 $41 $9 $44 $15 $33 $72
Yoga $139 $98 $55 $23 $142 $54 $37 $87
Massage $89 $11 $10 $15 $64 $20 $53 $10
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Claro, Tigo Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline Telkomsel, XL Axiata
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, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Tip 10% in restaurants 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés. Tip 5 - 10% in restaurants if service charge is not included in the bill
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now EasyTaxi Yandex, Bolt Grab, GoJek
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 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 Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. Balinese foods revolve on the complex flavors from certain ingredients like fresh vegetables, meat, coconut milk, and time-tested spices mixture.
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 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 Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli Satay, nasi goreng, gado-gado, martabak, bubur sumsum
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 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 Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars Warung for authentic babi guling and bebek betutu, cafes for kopi luwak, street stalls for pisang goreng, nasi campur, and sate lilit
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 10 options on Happy Cow 255 listings on Happy Cow