Austin vs Barcelona vs Bogota vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Seoul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 10,978,360 15,520,000 8,850,000 9,963,452
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Spanish Turkish Spanish Korean
Level of English Very high High Low Low Moderate Moderate
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) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
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 March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
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 $2184
Rent $1650 $932 $480 $354 $778 $797
Groceries $243 $121 $82 $44 $281 $356
Dining out $396 $403 $174 $81 $182 $211
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $18 $49 $69
Coworking space $331 $213 $77 $49 $159 $222
Mobile internet $40 $10 $11 $3 $25 $40
Public transportation $110 $127 $23 $6 $11 $40
Taxis $73 $48 $28 $6 $9 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $17 $2 $24 $13
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $22 $11 $81 $39
Museums and sights $11 $33 $7 $15 $20 $6
Nightlife $124 $112 $46 $22 $64 $93
Gym $62 $81 $15 $9 $69 $69
Yoga $139 $93 $57 $23 $65 $112
Massage $89 $59 $37 $15 $51 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Tigo, Movistar, Claro Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
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 Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Cabify BiTaksi Uber Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
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 Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
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) Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
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 57 options on Happy Cow