Austin vs Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Madrid

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 2,900,000 15,520,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Spanish Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high High High Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October September - December April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1321 $659 $2498
Rent $1650 $615 $844 $354 $1174
Groceries $243 $114 $98 $44 $175
Dining out $396 $165 $121 $81 $313
Cafe $66 $38 $25 $18 $51
Coworking space $331 $133 $95 $49 $196
Mobile internet $40 $7 $11 $3 $10
Public transportation $110 $21 $9 $6 $78
Taxis $73 $9 $9 $6 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $14 $2 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $24 $11 $54
Museums and sights $11 $29 $4 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $45 $23 $22 $82
Gym $62 $30 $14 $9 $44
Yoga $139 $59 $19 $23 $142
Massage $89 $31 $10 $15 $64
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
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 Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. 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 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 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 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 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 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 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow