Austin vs Barcelona vs Bogota vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Mexico City

Austin 🇺🇸
Remove
Barcelona 🇪🇸
Remove
Bogota 🇨🇴
Remove
Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
Remove
Istanbul 🇹🇷
Remove
Mexico City 🇲🇽
Remove
Population 926,426 5,585,556 10,978,360 1,166,978 15,520,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Spanish Thai Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Low Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November January - March, December November - April April - June, September and October March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $1097 $974 $659 $1867
Rent $1650 $932 $480 $274 $354 $778
Groceries $243 $121 $82 $169 $44 $281
Dining out $396 $403 $174 $108 $81 $182
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $45 $18 $49
Coworking space $331 $213 $77 $95 $49 $159
Mobile internet $40 $10 $11 $11 $3 $25
Public transportation $110 $127 $23 $60 $6 $11
Taxis $73 $48 $28 $20 $6 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $17 $10 $2 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $22 $8 $11 $81
Museums and sights $11 $33 $7 $8 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $112 $46 $62 $22 $64
Gym $62 $81 $15 $41 $9 $69
Yoga $139 $93 $57 $55 $23 $65
Massage $89 $59 $37 $10 $15 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Tigo, Movistar, Claro AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Cabify Grab BiTaksi Uber
Tap water Drinkable 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. Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. 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. 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua 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 Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. 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 Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow