Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Playa del Carmen vs Seoul vs Sofia

Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Seoul ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 1,166,978 8,053,663 259,453 9,963,452 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai Vietnamese Spanish Korean Bulgarian
Level of English Low Moderate Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit November - April January, February, October - December January - May, October - December March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (โ‚ฉ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $974 $1167 $2143 $2184 $1289
Rent $274 $503 $923 $797 $567
Groceries $169 $151 $127 $356 $10
Dining out $108 $134 $207 $211 $227
Cafe $45 $39 $42 $69 $27
Coworking space $95 $72 $160 $222 $140
Mobile internet $11 $4 $21 $40 $10
Public transportation $60 $20 $17 $40 $30
Taxis $20 $13 $9 $41 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $10 $0 $49 $13 $40
Sport and cultural events $8 $3 $97 $39 $18
Museums and sights $8 $4 $217 $6 $12
Nightlife $62 $89 $77 $93 $82
Gym $41 $57 $42 $69 $23
Yoga $55 $57 $54 $112 $62
Massage $10 $21 $101 $75 $29
SIM card options AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Telcel, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. 10-15% for restaurants Not customary or expected 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Grab Grab, GoViet N/A Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. 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.
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 Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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 Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow