Austin vs Barcelona vs Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Madrid

Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 1,768,073 2,900,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Hungarian Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high High High High Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November March - June, September - November September - December March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $1230 $1321 $2498
Rent $1650 $932 $499 $844 $1174
Groceries $243 $121 $108 $98 $175
Dining out $396 $403 $202 $121 $313
Cafe $66 $45 $29 $25 $51
Coworking space $331 $213 $120 $95 $196
Mobile internet $40 $10 $9 $11 $10
Public transportation $110 $127 $36 $9 $78
Taxis $73 $48 $27 $9 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $13 $14 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $24 $24 $54
Museums and sights $11 $33 $7 $4 $20
Nightlife $124 $112 $43 $23 $82
Gym $62 $81 $37 $14 $44
Yoga $139 $93 $48 $19 $142
Massage $89 $59 $26 $10 $64
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
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 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable 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. 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. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros
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 markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros!
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow