Austin vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Rio de Janeiro

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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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 926,426 1,166,978 15,520,000 144,900 517,000 6,578,0179 6,718,903
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Turkish Greek Portuguese Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Low Low High Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - April April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, September - November January - March, December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $974 $659 $1959 $1984 $2498 $1833
Rent $1650 $274 $354 $678 $965 $1174 $1066
Groceries $243 $169 $44 $157 $136 $175 $95
Dining out $396 $108 $81 $261 $271 $313 $210
Cafe $66 $45 $18 $56 $37 $51 $25
Coworking space $331 $95 $49 $209 $164 $196 $130
Mobile internet $40 $11 $3 $35 $24 $10 $7
Public transportation $110 $60 $6 $63 $63 $78 $33
Taxis $73 $20 $6 $42 $27 $44 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $10 $2 $45 $18 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $54 $8 $11 $28 $29 $54 $55
Museums and sights $11 $8 $15 $8 $24 $20 $26
Nightlife $124 $62 $22 $110 $47 $82 $54
Gym $62 $41 $9 $107 $65 $44 $31
Yoga $139 $55 $23 $105 $65 $142 $40
Massage $89 $10 $15 $54 $50 $64 $32
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo
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 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
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 Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
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 Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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! The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow