Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs New York City vs Panama City vs Playa del Carmen

Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Panama City ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 1,166,978 8,053,663 15,520,000 144,900 8,323,340 880,691 259,453
Official language(s) Thai Vietnamese Turkish Greek English (de facto) Spanish Spanish
Level of English Low Moderate Low High Very high Low Moderate
Main airport Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit November - April January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, October - December April - June, September - November December - April January - May, October - December
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) USD - US Dollar ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $974 $1167 $659 $1959 $5431 $2359 $2143
Rent $274 $503 $354 $678 $2891 $1036 $923
Groceries $169 $151 $44 $157 $383 $236 $127
Dining out $108 $134 $81 $261 $656 $371 $207
Cafe $45 $39 $18 $56 $72 $43 $42
Coworking space $95 $72 $49 $209 $326 $157 $160
Mobile internet $11 $4 $3 $35 $45 $21 $21
Public transportation $60 $20 $6 $63 $220 $12 $17
Taxis $20 $13 $6 $42 $78 $48 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $10 $0 $2 $45 $30 $0 $49
Sport and cultural events $8 $3 $11 $28 $100 $35 $97
Museums and sights $8 $4 $15 $8 $74 $9 $217
Nightlife $62 $89 $22 $110 $195 $117 $77
Gym $41 $57 $9 $107 $55 $37 $42
Yoga $55 $57 $23 $105 $197 $163 $54
Massage $10 $21 $15 $54 $109 $75 $101
SIM card options AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN AT&T, Verizon Claro, Movistar Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Grab Grab, GoViet BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, Lyft Uber, Tu Chofer N/A
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine 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. 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.. 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. Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
Local food specialities Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
Eat like a local Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street 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. Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 309 options on HappyCow 7 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow