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Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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| Population | 926,426 | 3,400,000 | 1,830,000 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | German | Romanian | Turkish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Very high | High | Low | Moderate |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | May - September | April - October | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2200 | $1351 | $659 | $2498 |
| Rent | $1650 | $939 | $615 | $354 | $1174 |
| Groceries | $243 | $188 | $114 | $44 | $175 |
| Dining out | $396 | $271 | $165 | $81 | $313 |
| Cafe | $66 | $57 | $38 | $18 | $51 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $174 | $133 | $49 | $196 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $23 | $7 | $3 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $88 | $21 | $6 | $78 |
| Taxis | $73 | $58 | $9 | $6 | $44 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $25 | $2 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $64 | $29 | $11 | $54 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $37 | $29 | $15 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $63 | $45 | $22 | $82 |
| Gym | $62 | $66 | $30 | $9 | $44 |
| Yoga | $139 | $99 | $59 | $23 | $142 |
| Massage | $89 | $56 | $31 | $15 | $64 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | Vodafone, Orange | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Mytaxi, Uber | Star Taxi, Uber | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
| Tap water | Drinkable | 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. | Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | 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 | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | 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 | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | 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 | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |