How different is the lifestyle of male monks from that of the female monks?
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron founded Sravasti Abbey in 2003. It's based i the US, not Asia, but Venerable has her education and tradition from Asia (education India/tradition Tibet).  Male and female monastics train together there as equals—brothers and sisters supporting each other on the Dharma path.

They write a lot on their site about monastic life in general, see more: http://www.sravastiabbey.org/about/index.html 

"Ordination in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition" is an article from H.H. The Dalai Lama on both male/monks and female/nuns. http://www.dalailama.com/messages/buddhism/ordination-in-the-tibetan-tradition