Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Panama City

Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Panama City ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Population 1,166,978 8,053,663 517,000 6,578,0179 880,691
Official language(s) Thai Vietnamese Portuguese Spanish Spanish
Level of English Low Moderate Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Most common months to visit November - April January, February, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, September - November December - April
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.)
Credit cards Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops.
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $974 $1167 $1984 $2498 $2359
Rent $274 $503 $965 $1174 $1036
Groceries $169 $151 $136 $175 $236
Dining out $108 $134 $271 $313 $371
Cafe $45 $39 $37 $51 $43
Coworking space $95 $72 $164 $196 $157
Mobile internet $11 $4 $24 $10 $21
Public transportation $60 $20 $63 $78 $12
Taxis $20 $13 $27 $44 $48
Shared bicycles and scooters $10 $0 $18 $49 $0
Sport and cultural events $8 $3 $29 $54 $35
Museums and sights $8 $4 $24 $20 $9
Nightlife $62 $89 $47 $82 $117
Gym $41 $57 $65 $44 $37
Yoga $55 $57 $65 $142 $163
Massage $10 $21 $50 $64 $75
SIM card options AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Claro, Movistar
Tipping 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Grab Grab, GoViet Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Tu Chofer
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 mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. 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. Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine.
Local food specialities Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads 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 Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja
Eat like a local Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food 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! Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks
Vegetarian / vegan options 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow