Austin vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Mexico City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 1,166,978 8,053,663 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Vietnamese Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - April January, February, October - December March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $974 $1167 $1867
Rent $1650 $274 $503 $778
Groceries $243 $169 $151 $281
Dining out $396 $108 $134 $182
Cafe $66 $45 $39 $49
Coworking space $331 $95 $72 $159
Mobile internet $40 $11 $4 $25
Public transportation $110 $60 $20 $11
Taxis $73 $20 $13 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $10 $0 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $8 $3 $81
Museums and sights $11 $8 $4 $20
Nightlife $124 $62 $89 $64
Gym $62 $41 $57 $69
Yoga $139 $55 $57 $65
Massage $89 $10 $21 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes 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%. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Grab, GoViet Uber
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. 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. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
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 Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow