Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Playa del Carmen vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 1,166,978 15,520,000 259,453 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai Turkish Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Low Low Moderate Low High
Main airport Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Galeรฃo International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit November - April April - June, September and October January - May, October - December January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $974 $659 $2143 $1833 $1289
Rent $274 $354 $923 $1066 $567
Groceries $169 $44 $127 $95 $10
Dining out $108 $81 $207 $210 $227
Cafe $45 $18 $42 $25 $27
Coworking space $95 $49 $160 $130 $140
Mobile internet $11 $3 $21 $7 $10
Public transportation $60 $6 $17 $33 $30
Taxis $20 $6 $9 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $10 $2 $49 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $8 $11 $97 $55 $18
Museums and sights $8 $15 $217 $26 $12
Nightlife $62 $22 $77 $54 $82
Gym $41 $9 $42 $31 $23
Yoga $55 $23 $54 $40 $62
Massage $10 $15 $101 $32 $29
SIM card options AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10-15% for restaurants 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Grab BiTaksi N/A Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
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 Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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 Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow