Austin vs Barcelona vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Medellin

Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 8,053,663 15,520,000 2,427,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Vietnamese Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Moderate Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November January, February, October - December April - June, September and October January - April, December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $1167 $659 $1293
Rent $1650 $932 $503 $354 $732
Groceries $243 $121 $151 $44 $87
Dining out $396 $403 $134 $81 $131
Cafe $66 $45 $39 $18 $18
Coworking space $331 $213 $72 $49 $96
Mobile internet $40 $10 $4 $3 $16
Public transportation $110 $127 $20 $6 $21
Taxis $73 $48 $13 $6 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $0 $2 $0
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $3 $11 $8
Museums and sights $11 $33 $4 $15 $9
Nightlife $124 $112 $89 $22 $73
Gym $62 $81 $57 $9 $15
Yoga $139 $93 $57 $23 $54
Massage $89 $59 $21 $15 $20
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo
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 Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Grab, GoViet BiTaksi EasyTaxi
Tap water Drinkable 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. A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa
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 Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow