Austin vs Barbados vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs New York City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Barbados ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง
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Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 926,426 110,000 1,830,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) English (de facto) English, Bajan Creole Romanian Thai Turkish English (de facto)
Level of English Very high Very high High Low Low Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - May April - October November - April April - June, September and October April - June, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2702 $1351 $974 $659 $5431
Rent $1650 $1054 $615 $274 $354 $2891
Groceries $243 $234 $114 $169 $44 $383
Dining out $396 $345 $165 $108 $81 $656
Cafe $66 $75 $38 $45 $18 $72
Coworking space $331 $321 $133 $95 $49 $326
Mobile internet $40 $49 $7 $11 $3 $45
Public transportation $110 $35 $21 $60 $6 $220
Taxis $73 $106 $9 $20 $6 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $0 $25 $10 $2 $30
Sport and cultural events $54 $37 $29 $8 $11 $100
Museums and sights $11 $36 $29 $8 $15 $74
Nightlife $124 $96 $45 $62 $22 $195
Gym $62 $86 $30 $41 $9 $55
Yoga $139 $130 $59 $55 $23 $197
Massage $89 $99 $31 $10 $15 $109
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Digicel Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 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, cafรฉs and bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft None available Star Taxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi Uber, Lyft
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. Bajan cuisine features an eclectic mix of European, Asian, and Caribbean styles resulting in bold, tasty and crunchy meat or fish dishes with lots of spices, lime juice, thyme and salads laden with local vegetables and hot side dishes. 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 American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Sarmale, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops 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 Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 14 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow