|
Austin 🇺🇸
|
Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
|
Istanbul 🇹🇷
|
Larnaca 🇨🇾
|
|
| Population | 926,426 | 1,768,073 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Hungarian | Turkish | Greek |
| Level of English | Very high | High | Low | High |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - June, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1230 | $659 | $1959 |
| Rent | $1650 | $499 | $354 | $678 |
| Groceries | $243 | $108 | $44 | $157 |
| Dining out | $396 | $202 | $81 | $261 |
| Cafe | $66 | $29 | $18 | $56 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $120 | $49 | $209 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $9 | $3 | $35 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $36 | $6 | $63 |
| Taxis | $73 | $27 | $6 | $42 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $13 | $2 | $45 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $24 | $11 | $28 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $7 | $15 | $8 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $43 | $22 | $110 |
| Gym | $62 | $37 | $9 | $107 |
| Yoga | $139 | $48 | $23 | $105 |
| Massage | $89 | $26 | $15 | $54 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Telenor | 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 | 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 | BiTaksi | nTaxi |
| Tap water | Drinkable | 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 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 | 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 | 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 | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available |