Austin vs Berlin vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Madrid vs Mexico City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Berlin ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 1,830,000 1,166,978 6,578,0179 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Romanian Thai Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high High Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September April - October November - April March - May, September - November March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No Yes No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1351 $974 $2498 $1867
Rent $1650 $939 $615 $274 $1174 $778
Groceries $243 $188 $114 $169 $175 $281
Dining out $396 $271 $165 $108 $313 $182
Cafe $66 $57 $38 $45 $51 $49
Coworking space $331 $174 $133 $95 $196 $159
Mobile internet $40 $23 $7 $11 $10 $25
Public transportation $110 $88 $21 $60 $78 $11
Taxis $73 $58 $9 $20 $44 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $25 $10 $49 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $29 $8 $54 $81
Museums and sights $11 $37 $29 $8 $20 $20
Nightlife $124 $63 $45 $62 $82 $64
Gym $62 $66 $30 $41 $44 $69
Yoga $139 $99 $59 $55 $142 $65
Massage $89 $56 $31 $10 $64 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 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 Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber Grab Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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. Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Currywurst, spรคtzle, kรถnigsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels 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 Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros 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 Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food 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! Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow