Austin vs Barbados vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Hanoi vs Istanbul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Barbados 🇧🇧
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 926,426 110,000 10,978,360 1,830,000 8,053,663 15,520,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Romanian Vietnamese Turkish
Level of English Very high Very high Low High Moderate Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - May January - March, December April - October January, February, October - December April - June, September and October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2702 $1097 $1351 $1167 $659
Rent $1650 $1054 $480 $615 $503 $354
Groceries $243 $234 $82 $114 $151 $44
Dining out $396 $345 $174 $165 $134 $81
Cafe $66 $75 $22 $38 $39 $18
Coworking space $331 $321 $77 $133 $72 $49
Mobile internet $40 $49 $11 $7 $4 $3
Public transportation $110 $35 $23 $21 $20 $6
Taxis $73 $106 $28 $9 $13 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $0 $17 $25 $0 $2
Sport and cultural events $54 $37 $22 $29 $3 $11
Museums and sights $11 $36 $7 $29 $4 $15
Nightlife $124 $96 $46 $45 $89 $22
Gym $62 $86 $15 $30 $57 $9
Yoga $139 $130 $57 $59 $57 $23
Massage $89 $99 $37 $31 $21 $15
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Digicel Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft None available Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Grab, GoViet BiTaksi
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Bajan cuisine features an eclectic mix of European, Asian, and Caribbean styles resulting in bold, tasty and crunchy meat or fish dishes with lots of spices, lime juice, thyme and salads laden with local vegetables and hot side dishes. Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 14 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow