Austin vs Barcelona vs Bogota vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Rio de Janeiro

Austin 🇺🇸
Remove
Barcelona 🇪🇸
Remove
Bogota 🇨🇴
Remove
Istanbul 🇹🇷
Remove
Mexico City 🇲🇽
Remove
Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
Remove
Population 926,426 5,585,556 10,978,360 15,520,000 8,850,000 6,718,903
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Spanish Turkish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high High Low Low Moderate Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November January - March, December April - June, September and October March - May, October, November January - March, December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted everywhere Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $1097 $659 $1867 $1833
Rent $1650 $932 $480 $354 $778 $1066
Groceries $243 $121 $82 $44 $281 $95
Dining out $396 $403 $174 $81 $182 $210
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $18 $49 $25
Coworking space $331 $213 $77 $49 $159 $130
Mobile internet $40 $10 $11 $3 $25 $7
Public transportation $110 $127 $23 $6 $11 $33
Taxis $73 $48 $28 $6 $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $17 $2 $24 $16
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $22 $11 $81 $55
Museums and sights $11 $33 $7 $15 $20 $26
Nightlife $124 $112 $46 $22 $64 $54
Gym $62 $81 $15 $9 $69 $31
Yoga $139 $93 $57 $23 $65 $40
Massage $89 $59 $37 $15 $51 $32
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Tigo, Movistar, Claro Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Cabify BiTaksi Uber Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
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. Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow