Austin ๐บ๐ธ
|
Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
|
Population | 926,426 | 1,166,978 | 6,578,0179 | 259,453 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Thai | Spanish | Spanish |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | November - April | March - May, September - November | January - May, October - December |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $974 | $2498 | $2143 |
Rent | $1650 | $274 | $1174 | $923 |
Groceries | $243 | $169 | $175 | $127 |
Dining out | $396 | $108 | $313 | $207 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $51 | $42 |
Coworking space | $331 | $95 | $196 | $160 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $11 | $10 | $21 |
Public transportation | $110 | $60 | $78 | $17 |
Taxis | $73 | $20 | $44 | $9 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $10 | $49 | $49 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $8 | $54 | $97 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $8 | $20 | $217 |
Nightlife | $124 | $62 | $82 | $77 |
Gym | $62 | $41 | $44 | $42 |
Yoga | $139 | $55 | $142 | $54 |
Massage | $89 | $10 | $64 | $101 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | AIS, DTAC | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Grab | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | N/A |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. | 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. | 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 | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | 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 | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | 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 | 30 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |