Austin vs Berlin vs Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Seoul

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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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 1,830,000 15,520,000 6,578,0179 9,963,452
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Romanian Turkish Spanish Korean
Level of English Very high Very high High Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September April - October April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
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 $2184
Rent $1650 $939 $615 $354 $1174 $797
Groceries $243 $188 $114 $44 $175 $356
Dining out $396 $271 $165 $81 $313 $211
Cafe $66 $57 $38 $18 $51 $69
Coworking space $331 $174 $133 $49 $196 $222
Mobile internet $40 $23 $7 $3 $10 $40
Public transportation $110 $88 $21 $6 $78 $40
Taxis $73 $58 $9 $6 $44 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $25 $2 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $29 $11 $54 $39
Museums and sights $11 $37 $29 $15 $20 $6
Nightlife $124 $63 $45 $22 $82 $93
Gym $62 $66 $30 $9 $44 $69
Yoga $139 $99 $59 $23 $142 $112
Massage $89 $56 $31 $15 $64 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
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. Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Kakao
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. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
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 Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
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! Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
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 57 options on Happy Cow