Austin vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs New York City vs Playa del Carmen

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Remove
Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
Remove
Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
Remove
Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
Remove
New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Remove
Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
Remove
Population 926,426 1,166,978 8,053,663 15,520,000 8,323,340 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Vietnamese Turkish English (de facto) Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Moderate Low Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - April January, February, October - December April - June, September and October April - June, September - November January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) USD - US Dollar ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $974 $1167 $659 $5431 $2143
Rent $1650 $274 $503 $354 $2891 $923
Groceries $243 $169 $151 $44 $383 $127
Dining out $396 $108 $134 $81 $656 $207
Cafe $66 $45 $39 $18 $72 $42
Coworking space $331 $95 $72 $49 $326 $160
Mobile internet $40 $11 $4 $3 $45 $21
Public transportation $110 $60 $20 $6 $220 $17
Taxis $73 $20 $13 $6 $78 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $10 $0 $2 $30 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $8 $3 $11 $100 $97
Museums and sights $11 $8 $4 $15 $74 $217
Nightlife $124 $62 $89 $22 $195 $77
Gym $62 $41 $57 $9 $55 $42
Yoga $139 $55 $57 $23 $197 $54
Massage $89 $10 $21 $15 $109 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom AT&T, Verizon Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 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 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, Lyft N/A
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow