Austin vs Barcelona vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 10,978,360 1,830,000 4,617,560 15,520,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Spanish Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish
Level of English Very high High Low High Very high Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November January - March, December April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September and October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $1097 $1351 $1549 $659
Rent $1650 $932 $480 $615 $618 $354
Groceries $243 $121 $82 $114 $129 $44
Dining out $396 $403 $174 $165 $269 $81
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $38 $32 $18
Coworking space $331 $213 $77 $133 $151 $49
Mobile internet $40 $10 $11 $7 $27 $3
Public transportation $110 $127 $23 $21 $55 $6
Taxis $73 $48 $28 $9 $21 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $17 $25 $49 $2
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $22 $29 $19 $11
Museums and sights $11 $33 $7 $29 $15 $15
Nightlife $124 $112 $46 $45 $43 $22
Gym $62 $81 $15 $30 $36 $9
Yoga $139 $93 $57 $59 $56 $23
Massage $89 $59 $37 $31 $30 $15
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom 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 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 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi
Tap water Drinkable 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. 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. 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. South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. 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 tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, 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 Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow