Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ
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Berlin ๐ฉ๐ช
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 3,400,000 | 15,520,000 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | German | Turkish |
Level of English | Very high | High | Very high | Low |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Istanbul Airport (IST) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | May - September | April - June, September and October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted in most places |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $2200 | $659 |
Rent | $1650 | $932 | $939 | $354 |
Groceries | $243 | $121 | $188 | $44 |
Dining out | $396 | $403 | $271 | $81 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $57 | $18 |
Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $174 | $49 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $23 | $3 |
Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $88 | $6 |
Taxis | $73 | $48 | $58 | $6 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $17 | $2 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $64 | $11 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $37 | $15 |
Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $63 | $22 |
Gym | $62 | $81 | $66 | $9 |
Yoga | $139 | $93 | $99 | $23 |
Massage | $89 | $59 | $56 | $15 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | Turkcell, Turk Telekom |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Mytaxi, Uber | BiTaksi |
Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | 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. | Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. | Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread | 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 | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Currywurst, spรคtzle, kรถnigsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight |
Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 98 options on HappyCow | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow |