Austin vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Panama City vs Playa del Carmen

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 1,166,978 8,053,663 880,691 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Thai Vietnamese Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November November - April January, February, October - December December - April January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $974 $1167 $2359 $2143
Rent $1650 $499 $274 $503 $1036 $923
Groceries $243 $108 $169 $151 $236 $127
Dining out $396 $202 $108 $134 $371 $207
Cafe $66 $29 $45 $39 $43 $42
Coworking space $331 $120 $95 $72 $157 $160
Mobile internet $40 $9 $11 $4 $21 $21
Public transportation $110 $36 $60 $20 $12 $17
Taxis $73 $27 $20 $13 $48 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $10 $0 $0 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $8 $3 $35 $97
Museums and sights $11 $7 $8 $4 $9 $217
Nightlife $124 $43 $62 $89 $117 $77
Gym $62 $37 $41 $57 $37 $42
Yoga $139 $48 $55 $57 $163 $54
Massage $89 $26 $10 $21 $75 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Claro, Movistar Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi Grab Grab, GoViet Uber, Tu Chofer N/A
Tap water Drinkable 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. 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 mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. 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 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja 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 Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow