Austin vs Barcelona vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Istanbul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 1,830,000 1,768,073 15,520,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Romanian Hungarian Turkish
Level of English Very high High High High Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November April - October March - June, September - November April - June, September and October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $1351 $1230 $659
Rent $1650 $932 $615 $499 $354
Groceries $243 $121 $114 $108 $44
Dining out $396 $403 $165 $202 $81
Cafe $66 $45 $38 $29 $18
Coworking space $331 $213 $133 $120 $49
Mobile internet $40 $10 $7 $9 $3
Public transportation $110 $127 $21 $36 $6
Taxis $73 $48 $9 $27 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $25 $13 $2
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $29 $24 $11
Museums and sights $11 $33 $29 $7 $15
Nightlife $124 $112 $45 $43 $22
Gym $62 $81 $30 $37 $9
Yoga $139 $93 $59 $48 $23
Massage $89 $59 $31 $26 $15
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor 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 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not 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. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. 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 Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos 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 Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow