Austin vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Seoul vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 2,900,000 15,520,000 6,578,0179 9,963,452 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Spanish Turkish Spanish Korean Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November September - December April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) KRW - South Korean won (₩) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1321 $659 $2498 $2184 $1289
Rent $1650 $844 $354 $1174 $797 $567
Groceries $243 $98 $44 $175 $356 $10
Dining out $396 $121 $81 $313 $211 $227
Cafe $66 $25 $18 $51 $69 $27
Coworking space $331 $95 $49 $196 $222 $140
Mobile internet $40 $11 $3 $10 $40 $10
Public transportation $110 $9 $6 $78 $40 $30
Taxis $73 $9 $6 $44 $41 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $14 $2 $49 $13 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $11 $54 $39 $18
Museums and sights $11 $4 $15 $20 $6 $12
Nightlife $124 $23 $22 $82 $93 $82
Gym $62 $14 $9 $44 $69 $23
Yoga $139 $19 $23 $142 $112 $62
Massage $89 $10 $15 $64 $75 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Not customary or expected 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable 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. 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 Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries 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 Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow