Austin vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Seoul

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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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Seoul ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 9,963,452
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Thai Turkish Spanish Korean
Level of English Very high High Low Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) KRW - South Korean won (โ‚ฉ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $974 $659 $2498 $2184
Rent $1650 $615 $274 $354 $1174 $797
Groceries $243 $114 $169 $44 $175 $356
Dining out $396 $165 $108 $81 $313 $211
Cafe $66 $38 $45 $18 $51 $69
Coworking space $331 $133 $95 $49 $196 $222
Mobile internet $40 $7 $11 $3 $10 $40
Public transportation $110 $21 $60 $6 $78 $40
Taxis $73 $9 $20 $6 $44 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $10 $2 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $8 $11 $54 $39
Museums and sights $11 $29 $8 $15 $20 $6
Nightlife $124 $45 $62 $22 $82 $93
Gym $62 $30 $41 $9 $44 $69
Yoga $139 $59 $55 $23 $142 $112
Massage $89 $31 $10 $15 $64 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
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, cafรฉs and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 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. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
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 Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
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 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! Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow