Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Sofia vs Tbilisi

Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Tbilisi ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Population 1,166,978 15,520,000 1,270,169 1,108,700
Official language(s) Thai Turkish Bulgarian Georgian
Level of English Low Low High Low
Main airport Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
Most common months to visit November - April April - June, September and October April-June, September-October March - June
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) GEL - Georgian Lari (โ‚พ)
Credit cards Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $974 $659 $1289 $1462
Rent $274 $354 $567 $752
Groceries $169 $44 $10 $112
Dining out $108 $81 $227 $169
Cafe $45 $18 $27 $45
Coworking space $95 $49 $140 $125
Mobile internet $11 $3 $10 $4
Public transportation $60 $6 $30 $8
Taxis $20 $6 $12 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $10 $2 $40 $27
Sport and cultural events $8 $11 $18 $21
Museums and sights $8 $15 $12 $9
Nightlife $62 $22 $82 $53
Gym $41 $9 $23 $33
Yoga $55 $23 $62 $37
Massage $10 $15 $29 $53
SIM card options AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom A1, Telenor, Vivacom Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline
Tipping 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafรฉs.
Taxi apps Grab BiTaksi TaxiMe, TaxiStars Yandex, Bolt
Tap water 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 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. Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams.
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 Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli
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 Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 10 options on Happy Cow