Austin vs Berlin vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Rio de Janeiro vs Seoul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 15,520,000 144,900 517,000 6,718,903 9,963,452
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Turkish Greek Portuguese Portuguese Korean
Level of English Very high Very high Low High Very high Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Galeão International Airport Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September, October January - March, December March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $659 $1959 $1984 $1833 $2184
Rent $1650 $939 $354 $678 $965 $1066 $797
Groceries $243 $188 $44 $157 $136 $95 $356
Dining out $396 $271 $81 $261 $271 $210 $211
Cafe $66 $57 $18 $56 $37 $25 $69
Coworking space $331 $174 $49 $209 $164 $130 $222
Mobile internet $40 $23 $3 $35 $24 $7 $40
Public transportation $110 $88 $6 $63 $63 $33 $40
Taxis $73 $58 $6 $42 $27 $14 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $2 $45 $18 $16 $13
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $11 $28 $29 $55 $39
Museums and sights $11 $37 $15 $8 $24 $26 $6
Nightlife $124 $63 $22 $110 $47 $54 $93
Gym $62 $66 $9 $107 $65 $31 $69
Yoga $139 $99 $23 $105 $65 $40 $112
Massage $89 $56 $15 $54 $50 $32 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 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 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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. Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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 Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels 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 Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops 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 The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 844 listings 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 54 options on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow