Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 3,400,000 | 2,900,000 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | German | Spanish | Turkish | Greek |
Level of English | Very high | High | Very high | High | Low | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | May - September | September - December | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $2200 | $1321 | $659 | $1959 |
Rent | $1650 | $932 | $939 | $844 | $354 | $678 |
Groceries | $243 | $121 | $188 | $98 | $44 | $157 |
Dining out | $396 | $403 | $271 | $121 | $81 | $261 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $57 | $25 | $18 | $56 |
Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $174 | $95 | $49 | $209 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $23 | $11 | $3 | $35 |
Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $88 | $9 | $6 | $63 |
Taxis | $73 | $48 | $58 | $9 | $6 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $17 | $14 | $2 | $45 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $64 | $24 | $11 | $28 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $37 | $4 | $15 | $8 |
Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $63 | $23 | $22 | $110 |
Gym | $62 | $81 | $66 | $14 | $9 | $107 |
Yoga | $139 | $93 | $99 | $19 | $23 | $105 |
Massage | $89 | $59 | $56 | $10 | $15 | $54 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | Movistar, Claro, Personal | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN |
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 | 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Mytaxi, Uber | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | BiTaksi | nTaxi |
Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | 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. | 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 | Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. |
Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka |
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 | Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 98 options on HappyCow | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 79 options on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available |