Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 1,830,000 | 2,900,000 | 15,520,000 | 9,963,452 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Romanian | Spanish | Turkish | Korean |
Level of English | Very high | High | High | High | Low | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | April - October | September - December | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | KRW - South Korean won (₩) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $1351 | $1321 | $659 | $2184 |
Rent | $1650 | $932 | $615 | $844 | $354 | $797 |
Groceries | $243 | $121 | $114 | $98 | $44 | $356 |
Dining out | $396 | $403 | $165 | $121 | $81 | $211 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $38 | $25 | $18 | $69 |
Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $133 | $95 | $49 | $222 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $7 | $11 | $3 | $40 |
Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $21 | $9 | $6 | $40 |
Taxis | $73 | $48 | $9 | $9 | $6 | $41 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $25 | $14 | $2 | $13 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $29 | $24 | $11 | $39 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $29 | $4 | $15 | $6 |
Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $45 | $23 | $22 | $93 |
Gym | $62 | $81 | $30 | $14 | $9 | $69 |
Yoga | $139 | $93 | $59 | $19 | $23 | $112 |
Massage | $89 | $59 | $31 | $10 | $15 | $75 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Vodafone, Orange | Movistar, Claro, Personal | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 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 |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | BiTaksi | Uber, Kakao |
Tap water | Drinkable | 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. | Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. | 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 | 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 | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | 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 | 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 | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | 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 | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 98 options on HappyCow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 79 options on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow |