Austin vs Bangkok vs Chiang Mai vs Madrid vs New York City vs Playa del Carmen

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 1,166,978 6,578,0179 8,323,340 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Thai Spanish English (de facto) Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Low Moderate Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December November - April March - May, September - November April - June, September - November January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) USD - US Dollar ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $974 $2498 $5431 $2143
Rent $1650 $616 $274 $1174 $2891 $923
Groceries $243 $191 $169 $175 $383 $127
Dining out $396 $168 $108 $313 $656 $207
Cafe $66 $45 $45 $51 $72 $42
Coworking space $331 $127 $95 $196 $326 $160
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $10 $45 $21
Public transportation $110 $32 $60 $78 $220 $17
Taxis $73 $19 $20 $44 $78 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $10 $49 $30 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $8 $54 $100 $97
Museums and sights $11 $21 $8 $20 $74 $217
Nightlife $124 $50 $62 $82 $195 $77
Gym $62 $96 $41 $44 $55 $42
Yoga $139 $98 $55 $142 $197 $54
Massage $89 $11 $10 $64 $109 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS AIS, DTAC Orange, Movistar, Vodafone AT&T, Verizon Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Grab Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Lyft N/A
Tap water 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. Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup 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. Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food 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! Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow