Austin vs Bogota vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Mexico City

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 926,426 10,978,360 8,053,663 15,520,000 2,427,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Spanish Vietnamese Turkish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Moderate Low Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, December January, February, October - December April - June, September and October January - April, December March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1097 $1167 $659 $1293 $1867
Rent $1650 $480 $503 $354 $732 $778
Groceries $243 $82 $151 $44 $87 $281
Dining out $396 $174 $134 $81 $131 $182
Cafe $66 $22 $39 $18 $18 $49
Coworking space $331 $77 $72 $49 $96 $159
Mobile internet $40 $11 $4 $3 $16 $25
Public transportation $110 $23 $20 $6 $21 $11
Taxis $73 $28 $13 $6 $14 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $0 $2 $0 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $22 $3 $11 $8 $81
Museums and sights $11 $7 $4 $15 $9 $20
Nightlife $124 $46 $89 $22 $73 $64
Gym $62 $15 $57 $9 $15 $69
Yoga $139 $57 $57 $23 $54 $65
Massage $89 $37 $21 $15 $20 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Tigo, Movistar, Claro Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Cabify Grab, GoViet BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. 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 A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow