Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Playa del Carmen

Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 259,453
Official language(s) Thai Turkish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Low Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November January - May, October - December
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $974 $659 $2498 $2143
Rent $274 $354 $1174 $923
Groceries $169 $44 $175 $127
Dining out $108 $81 $313 $207
Cafe $45 $18 $51 $42
Coworking space $95 $49 $196 $160
Mobile internet $11 $3 $10 $21
Public transportation $60 $6 $78 $17
Taxis $20 $6 $44 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $10 $2 $49 $49
Sport and cultural events $8 $11 $54 $97
Museums and sights $8 $15 $20 $217
Nightlife $62 $22 $82 $77
Gym $41 $9 $44 $42
Yoga $55 $23 $142 $54
Massage $10 $15 $64 $101
SIM card options AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now N/A
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. 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 Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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! Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow