Austin vs Istanbul

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
Population 926,426 15,520,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Turkish
Level of English Very high Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September and October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $659
Rent $1650 $354
Groceries $243 $44
Dining out $396 $81
Cafe $66 $18
Coworking space $331 $49
Mobile internet $40 $3
Public transportation $110 $6
Taxis $73 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $2
Sport and cultural events $54 $11
Museums and sights $11 $15
Nightlife $124 $22
Gym $62 $9
Yoga $139 $23
Massage $89 $15
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Turkcell, Turk Telekom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft BiTaksi
Tap water 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow