Austin vs Barcelona vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 1,830,000 1,166,978 15,520,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Romanian Thai Turkish
Level of English Very high High High Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November April - October November - April April - June, September and October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $1351 $974 $659
Rent $1650 $932 $615 $274 $354
Groceries $243 $121 $114 $169 $44
Dining out $396 $403 $165 $108 $81
Cafe $66 $45 $38 $45 $18
Coworking space $331 $213 $133 $95 $49
Mobile internet $40 $10 $7 $11 $3
Public transportation $110 $127 $21 $60 $6
Taxis $73 $48 $9 $20 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $25 $10 $2
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $29 $8 $11
Museums and sights $11 $33 $29 $8 $15
Nightlife $124 $112 $45 $62 $22
Gym $62 $81 $30 $41 $9
Yoga $139 $93 $59 $55 $23
Massage $89 $59 $31 $10 $15
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom
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, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Star Taxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi
Tap water 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. 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. Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Sarmale, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight
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 Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow