Austin vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 926,426 1,166,978 15,520,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Turkish
Level of English Very high Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - April April - June, September and October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $974 $659
Rent $1650 $274 $354
Groceries $243 $169 $44
Dining out $396 $108 $81
Cafe $66 $45 $18
Coworking space $331 $95 $49
Mobile internet $40 $11 $3
Public transportation $110 $60 $6
Taxis $73 $20 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $10 $2
Sport and cultural events $54 $8 $11
Museums and sights $11 $8 $15
Nightlife $124 $62 $22
Gym $62 $41 $9
Yoga $139 $55 $23
Massage $89 $10 $15
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab BiTaksi
Tap water 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. 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
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries 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
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow