Austin vs Budapest vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Larnaca

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 8,053,663 15,520,000 144,900
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Vietnamese Turkish Greek
Level of English Very high High Moderate Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $1167 $659 $1959
Rent $1650 $499 $503 $354 $678
Groceries $243 $108 $151 $44 $157
Dining out $396 $202 $134 $81 $261
Cafe $66 $29 $39 $18 $56
Coworking space $331 $120 $72 $49 $209
Mobile internet $40 $9 $4 $3 $35
Public transportation $110 $36 $20 $6 $63
Taxis $73 $27 $13 $6 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $0 $2 $45
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $3 $11 $28
Museums and sights $11 $7 $4 $15 $8
Nightlife $124 $43 $89 $22 $110
Gym $62 $37 $57 $9 $107
Yoga $139 $48 $57 $23 $105
Massage $89 $26 $21 $15 $54
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi Grab, GoViet BiTaksi nTaxi
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. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. 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..
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food 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.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available