Austin vs Bangkok vs Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Porto

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 1,830,000 2,900,000 15,520,000 237,559
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Romanian Spanish Turkish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Low High High Low Very High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December April - October September - December April - June, September and October May - September
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1351 $1321 $659 $1759
Rent $1650 $616 $615 $844 $354 $717
Groceries $243 $191 $114 $98 $44 $148
Dining out $396 $168 $165 $121 $81 $280
Cafe $66 $45 $38 $25 $18 $45
Coworking space $331 $127 $133 $95 $49 $96
Mobile internet $40 $23 $7 $11 $3 $21
Public transportation $110 $32 $21 $9 $6 $95
Taxis $73 $19 $9 $9 $6 $25
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $25 $14 $2 $10
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $29 $24 $11 $45
Museums and sights $11 $21 $29 $4 $15 $24
Nightlife $124 $50 $45 $23 $22 $66
Gym $62 $96 $30 $14 $9 $56
Yoga $139 $98 $59 $19 $23 $82
Massage $89 $11 $31 $10 $15 $48
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, MEO, NOS
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 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 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup 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 A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan 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 Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants 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 Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow