Bangkok vs Barcelona vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Mexico City

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 5,680,000 5,585,556 1,768,073 15,520,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) Thai Catalan, Spanish Hungarian Turkish Spanish
Level of English Low High High Low Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December April - June, September - November March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No Yes No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1560 $2384 $1230 $659 $1867
Rent $616 $932 $499 $354 $778
Groceries $191 $121 $108 $44 $281
Dining out $168 $403 $202 $81 $182
Cafe $45 $45 $29 $18 $49
Coworking space $127 $213 $120 $49 $159
Mobile internet $23 $10 $9 $3 $25
Public transportation $32 $127 $36 $6 $11
Taxis $19 $48 $27 $6 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $24 $13 $2 $24
Sport and cultural events $46 $81 $24 $11 $81
Museums and sights $21 $33 $7 $15 $20
Nightlife $50 $112 $43 $22 $64
Gym $96 $81 $37 $9 $69
Yoga $98 $93 $48 $23 $65
Massage $11 $59 $26 $15 $51
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Grab Cabify, FreeNow Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 98 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow