Austin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs New York City

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,768,073 1,166,978 15,520,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Hungarian Thai Turkish English (de facto)
Level of English Very high High High Low Low Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October March - June, September - November November - April April - June, September and October April - June, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1230 $974 $659 $5431
Rent $1650 $615 $499 $274 $354 $2891
Groceries $243 $114 $108 $169 $44 $383
Dining out $396 $165 $202 $108 $81 $656
Cafe $66 $38 $29 $45 $18 $72
Coworking space $331 $133 $120 $95 $49 $326
Mobile internet $40 $7 $9 $11 $3 $45
Public transportation $110 $21 $36 $60 $6 $220
Taxis $73 $9 $27 $20 $6 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $13 $10 $2 $30
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $24 $8 $11 $100
Museums and sights $11 $29 $7 $8 $15 $74
Nightlife $124 $45 $43 $62 $22 $195
Gym $62 $30 $37 $41 $9 $55
Yoga $139 $59 $48 $55 $23 $197
Massage $89 $31 $26 $10 $15 $109
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom AT&T, Verizon
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 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab BiTaksi Uber, Lyft
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. 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 American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants 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 Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow