Austin vs Barbados vs Bogota vs Istanbul vs Medellin

Austin 🇺🇸
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Barbados 🇧🇧
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Population 926,426 110,000 10,978,360 15,520,000 2,427,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high Low Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - May January - March, December April - June, September and October January - April, December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2702 $1097 $659 $1293
Rent $1650 $1054 $480 $354 $732
Groceries $243 $234 $82 $44 $87
Dining out $396 $345 $174 $81 $131
Cafe $66 $75 $22 $18 $18
Coworking space $331 $321 $77 $49 $96
Mobile internet $40 $49 $11 $3 $16
Public transportation $110 $35 $23 $6 $21
Taxis $73 $106 $28 $6 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $0 $17 $2 $0
Sport and cultural events $54 $37 $22 $11 $8
Museums and sights $11 $36 $7 $15 $9
Nightlife $124 $96 $46 $22 $73
Gym $62 $86 $15 $9 $15
Yoga $139 $130 $57 $23 $54
Massage $89 $99 $37 $15 $20
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Digicel Tigo, Movistar, Claro Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo
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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft None available Uber, Cabify BiTaksi EasyTaxi
Tap water 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats
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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa
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. Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 14 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow