Austin vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Madrid

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,166,978 8,053,663 15,520,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Thai Vietnamese Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October November - April January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $974 $1167 $659 $2498
Rent $1650 $615 $274 $503 $354 $1174
Groceries $243 $114 $169 $151 $44 $175
Dining out $396 $165 $108 $134 $81 $313
Cafe $66 $38 $45 $39 $18 $51
Coworking space $331 $133 $95 $72 $49 $196
Mobile internet $40 $7 $11 $4 $3 $10
Public transportation $110 $21 $60 $20 $6 $78
Taxis $73 $9 $20 $13 $6 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $10 $0 $2 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $8 $3 $11 $54
Museums and sights $11 $29 $8 $4 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $45 $62 $89 $22 $82
Gym $62 $30 $41 $57 $9 $44
Yoga $139 $59 $55 $57 $23 $142
Massage $89 $31 $10 $21 $15 $64
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and 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 Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Grab Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
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. 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 mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. 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.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street 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!
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow