Austin vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Madrid

Austin 🇺🇸
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 926,426 2,900,000 15,520,000 144,900 517,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) English (de facto) Spanish Turkish Greek Portuguese Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low High Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November September - December April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1321 $659 $1959 $1984 $2498
Rent $1650 $844 $354 $678 $965 $1174
Groceries $243 $98 $44 $157 $136 $175
Dining out $396 $121 $81 $261 $271 $313
Cafe $66 $25 $18 $56 $37 $51
Coworking space $331 $95 $49 $209 $164 $196
Mobile internet $40 $11 $3 $35 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $9 $6 $63 $63 $78
Taxis $73 $9 $6 $42 $27 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $14 $2 $45 $18 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $11 $28 $29 $54
Museums and sights $11 $4 $15 $8 $24 $20
Nightlife $124 $23 $22 $110 $47 $82
Gym $62 $14 $9 $107 $65 $44
Yoga $139 $19 $23 $105 $65 $142
Massage $89 $10 $15 $54 $50 $64
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
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 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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 Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors.
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 Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros
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 Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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!
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow