Austin vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Mexico City

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 2,427,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Thai Turkish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Low Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October November - April April - June, September and October January - April, December March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $974 $659 $1293 $1867
Rent $1650 $615 $274 $354 $732 $778
Groceries $243 $114 $169 $44 $87 $281
Dining out $396 $165 $108 $81 $131 $182
Cafe $66 $38 $45 $18 $18 $49
Coworking space $331 $133 $95 $49 $96 $159
Mobile internet $40 $7 $11 $3 $16 $25
Public transportation $110 $21 $60 $6 $21 $11
Taxis $73 $9 $20 $6 $14 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $10 $2 $0 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $8 $11 $8 $81
Museums and sights $11 $29 $8 $15 $9 $20
Nightlife $124 $45 $62 $22 $73 $64
Gym $62 $30 $41 $9 $15 $69
Yoga $139 $59 $55 $23 $54 $65
Massage $89 $31 $10 $15 $20 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar
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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. 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 A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa 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 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 Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow