Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen vs Sofia vs Ubud

Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Ubud ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ
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Population 1,166,978 15,520,000 8,850,000 259,453 1,270,169 112,490
Official language(s) Thai Turkish Spanish Spanish Bulgarian Indonesian and Balinese
Level of English Low Low Moderate Moderate High Low
Main airport Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPA)
Most common months to visit November - April April - June, September and October March - May, October, November January - May, October - December April-June, September-October May - October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) IDR - Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)
Credit cards Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $974 $659 $1867 $2143 $1289 $1363
Rent $274 $354 $778 $923 $567 $658
Groceries $169 $44 $281 $127 $10 $150
Dining out $108 $81 $182 $207 $227 $10
Cafe $45 $18 $49 $42 $27 $28
Coworking space $95 $49 $159 $160 $140 $106
Mobile internet $11 $3 $25 $21 $10 $3
Public transportation $60 $6 $11 $17 $30 $53
Taxis $20 $6 $9 $9 $12 $13
Shared bicycles and scooters $10 $2 $24 $49 $40 $33
Sport and cultural events $8 $11 $81 $97 $18 $14
Museums and sights $8 $15 $20 $217 $12 $9
Nightlife $62 $22 $64 $77 $82 $118
Gym $41 $9 $69 $42 $23 $72
Yoga $55 $23 $65 $54 $62 $87
Massage $10 $15 $51 $101 $29 $10
SIM card options AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom Telkomsel, XL Axiata
Tipping 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs Tip 5 - 10% in restaurants if service charge is not included in the bill
Taxi apps Grab BiTaksi Uber N/A TaxiMe, TaxiStars Grab, GoJek
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices 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. Balinese foods revolve on the complex flavors from certain ingredients like fresh vegetables, meat, coconut milk, and time-tested spices mixture.
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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Satay, nasi goreng, gado-gado, martabak, bubur sumsum
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 Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. Warung for authentic babi guling and bebek betutu, cafes for kopi luwak, street stalls for pisang goreng, nasi campur, and sate lilit
Vegetarian / vegan options 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 255 listings on Happy Cow