Austin vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Playa del Carmen

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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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,166,978 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Thai Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October November - April January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $974 $2143
Rent $1650 $615 $274 $923
Groceries $243 $114 $169 $127
Dining out $396 $165 $108 $207
Cafe $66 $38 $45 $42
Coworking space $331 $133 $95 $160
Mobile internet $40 $7 $11 $21
Public transportation $110 $21 $60 $17
Taxis $73 $9 $20 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $10 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $8 $97
Museums and sights $11 $29 $8 $217
Nightlife $124 $45 $62 $77
Gym $62 $30 $41 $42
Yoga $139 $59 $55 $54
Massage $89 $31 $10 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC 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 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Grab N/A
Tap water 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. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
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 Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
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 Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow