Austin vs Berlin vs Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs New York City

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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New York City 🇺🇸
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 1,830,000 15,520,000 6,578,0179 8,323,340
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Romanian Turkish Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English Very high Very high High Low Moderate Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September April - October April - June, September and October March - May, September - November April - June, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1351 $659 $2498 $5431
Rent $1650 $939 $615 $354 $1174 $2891
Groceries $243 $188 $114 $44 $175 $383
Dining out $396 $271 $165 $81 $313 $656
Cafe $66 $57 $38 $18 $51 $72
Coworking space $331 $174 $133 $49 $196 $326
Mobile internet $40 $23 $7 $3 $10 $45
Public transportation $110 $88 $21 $6 $78 $220
Taxis $73 $58 $9 $6 $44 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $25 $2 $49 $30
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $29 $11 $54 $100
Museums and sights $11 $37 $29 $15 $20 $74
Nightlife $124 $63 $45 $22 $82 $195
Gym $62 $66 $30 $9 $44 $55
Yoga $139 $99 $59 $23 $142 $197
Massage $89 $56 $31 $15 $64 $109
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone AT&T, Verizon
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. 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Lyft
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
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 Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
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! Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
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 309 options on HappyCow