Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City

Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 1,166,978 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000
Official language(s) Thai Turkish Portuguese Spanish Spanish
Level of English Low Low Very high Moderate Moderate
Main airport Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $974 $659 $1984 $2498 $1867
Rent $274 $354 $965 $1174 $778
Groceries $169 $44 $136 $175 $281
Dining out $108 $81 $271 $313 $182
Cafe $45 $18 $37 $51 $49
Coworking space $95 $49 $164 $196 $159
Mobile internet $11 $3 $24 $10 $25
Public transportation $60 $6 $63 $78 $11
Taxis $20 $6 $27 $44 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $10 $2 $18 $49 $24
Sport and cultural events $8 $11 $29 $54 $81
Museums and sights $8 $15 $24 $20 $20
Nightlife $62 $22 $47 $82 $64
Gym $41 $9 $65 $44 $69
Yoga $55 $23 $65 $142 $65
Massage $10 $15 $50 $64 $51
SIM card options AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Grab BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
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 Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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! Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow