Chiang Mai vs Mexico City vs New York City vs Playa del Carmen vs Rio de Janeiro

Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 1,166,978 8,850,000 8,323,340 259,453 6,718,903
Official language(s) Thai Spanish English (de facto) Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Low Moderate Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit November - April March - May, October, November April - June, September - November January - May, October - December January - March, December
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No Yes No
Average monthly costs $974 $1867 $5431 $2143 $1833
Rent $274 $778 $2891 $923 $1066
Groceries $169 $281 $383 $127 $95
Dining out $108 $182 $656 $207 $210
Cafe $45 $49 $72 $42 $25
Coworking space $95 $159 $326 $160 $130
Mobile internet $11 $25 $45 $21 $7
Public transportation $60 $11 $220 $17 $33
Taxis $20 $9 $78 $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $10 $24 $30 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $8 $81 $100 $97 $55
Museums and sights $8 $20 $74 $217 $26
Nightlife $62 $64 $195 $77 $54
Gym $41 $69 $55 $42 $31
Yoga $55 $65 $197 $54 $40
Massage $10 $51 $109 $101 $32
SIM card options AIS, DTAC Telcel, Movistar AT&T, Verizon Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10-15% for restaurants 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Grab Uber Uber, Lyft N/A Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. 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.
Local food specialities Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants 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.
Vegetarian / vegan options 90 options on HappyCow 279 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow