Austin vs Bangkok vs Berlin vs Chiang Mai vs Mexico City vs Panama City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Remove
Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
Remove
Berlin ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
Remove
Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
Remove
Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
Remove
Panama City ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ
Remove
Population 926,426 5,680,000 3,400,000 1,166,978 8,850,000 880,691
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai German Thai Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Very high Low Moderate Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December May - September November - April March - May, October, November December - April
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops.
Remote worker visa No No Yes No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $2200 $974 $1867 $2359
Rent $1650 $616 $939 $274 $778 $1036
Groceries $243 $191 $188 $169 $281 $236
Dining out $396 $168 $271 $108 $182 $371
Cafe $66 $45 $57 $45 $49 $43
Coworking space $331 $127 $174 $95 $159 $157
Mobile internet $40 $23 $23 $11 $25 $21
Public transportation $110 $32 $88 $60 $11 $12
Taxis $73 $19 $58 $20 $9 $48
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $17 $10 $24 $0
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $64 $8 $81 $35
Museums and sights $11 $21 $37 $8 $20 $9
Nightlife $124 $50 $63 $62 $64 $117
Gym $62 $96 $66 $41 $69 $37
Yoga $139 $98 $99 $55 $65 $163
Massage $89 $11 $56 $10 $51 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone AIS, DTAC Telcel, Movistar Claro, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Mytaxi, Uber Grab Uber Uber, Tu Chofer
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 Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Currywurst, spรคtzle, kรถnigsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 844 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 279 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow