Bangkok ๐น๐ญ
|
Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
|
Population | 5,680,000 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 8,850,000 |
Official language(s) | Thai | Turkish | Greek | Spanish |
Level of English | Low | Low | High | Moderate |
Main airport | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) |
Most common months to visit | January - March, November, December | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | March - May, October, November |
Currency | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1560 | $659 | $1959 | $1867 |
Rent | $616 | $354 | $678 | $778 |
Groceries | $191 | $44 | $157 | $281 |
Dining out | $168 | $81 | $261 | $182 |
Cafe | $45 | $18 | $56 | $49 |
Coworking space | $127 | $49 | $209 | $159 |
Mobile internet | $23 | $3 | $35 | $25 |
Public transportation | $32 | $6 | $63 | $11 |
Taxis | $19 | $6 | $42 | $9 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $2 | $45 | $24 |
Sport and cultural events | $46 | $11 | $28 | $81 |
Museums and sights | $21 | $15 | $8 | $20 |
Nightlife | $50 | $22 | $110 | $64 |
Gym | $96 | $9 | $107 | $69 |
Yoga | $98 | $23 | $105 | $65 |
Massage | $11 | $15 | $54 | $51 |
SIM card options | AIS | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Telcel, Movistar |
Tipping | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services |
Taxi apps | Grab | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup | 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.. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese |
Local food specialities | Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas |
Eat like a local | Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants | 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. | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 279 listings on Happy Cow |