Austin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Larnaca

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,768,073 2,900,000 15,520,000 144,900
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Hungarian Spanish Turkish Greek
Level of English Very high High High High Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October March - June, September - November September - December April - June, September and October March - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1230 $1321 $659 $1959
Rent $1650 $615 $499 $844 $354 $678
Groceries $243 $114 $108 $98 $44 $157
Dining out $396 $165 $202 $121 $81 $261
Cafe $66 $38 $29 $25 $18 $56
Coworking space $331 $133 $120 $95 $49 $209
Mobile internet $40 $7 $9 $11 $3 $35
Public transportation $110 $21 $36 $9 $6 $63
Taxis $73 $9 $27 $9 $6 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $13 $14 $2 $45
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $24 $24 $11 $28
Museums and sights $11 $29 $7 $4 $15 $8
Nightlife $124 $45 $43 $23 $22 $110
Gym $62 $30 $37 $14 $9 $107
Yoga $139 $59 $48 $19 $23 $105
Massage $89 $31 $26 $10 $15 $54
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi nTaxi
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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 A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well..
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available