Austin vs Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Mexico City

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 2,900,000 15,520,000 144,900 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Spanish Turkish Greek Spanish
Level of English Very high High High Low High Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October September - December April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1321 $659 $1959 $1867
Rent $1650 $615 $844 $354 $678 $778
Groceries $243 $114 $98 $44 $157 $281
Dining out $396 $165 $121 $81 $261 $182
Cafe $66 $38 $25 $18 $56 $49
Coworking space $331 $133 $95 $49 $209 $159
Mobile internet $40 $7 $11 $3 $35 $25
Public transportation $110 $21 $9 $6 $63 $11
Taxis $73 $9 $9 $6 $42 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $14 $2 $45 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $24 $11 $28 $81
Museums and sights $11 $29 $4 $15 $8 $20
Nightlife $124 $45 $23 $22 $110 $64
Gym $62 $30 $14 $9 $107 $69
Yoga $139 $59 $19 $23 $105 $65
Massage $89 $31 $10 $15 $54 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Telcel, Movistar
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% 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 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi nTaxi Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. 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.. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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. Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 279 listings on Happy Cow