Austin vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Sofia

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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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 926,426 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Turkish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low Low Moderate High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $974 $659 $2498 $1289
Rent $1650 $274 $354 $1174 $567
Groceries $243 $169 $44 $175 $10
Dining out $396 $108 $81 $313 $227
Cafe $66 $45 $18 $51 $27
Coworking space $331 $95 $49 $196 $140
Mobile internet $40 $11 $3 $10 $10
Public transportation $110 $60 $6 $78 $30
Taxis $73 $20 $6 $44 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $10 $2 $49 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $8 $11 $54 $18
Museums and sights $11 $8 $15 $20 $12
Nightlife $124 $62 $22 $82 $82
Gym $62 $41 $9 $44 $23
Yoga $139 $55 $23 $142 $62
Massage $89 $10 $15 $64 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone A1, Telenor, Vivacom
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 Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
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 Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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 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! Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow