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Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
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| Population | 926,426 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 6,578,0179 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Turkish | Greek | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | High | Moderate |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $659 | $1959 | $2498 |
| Rent | $1650 | $354 | $678 | $1174 |
| Groceries | $243 | $44 | $157 | $175 |
| Dining out | $396 | $81 | $261 | $313 |
| Cafe | $66 | $18 | $56 | $51 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $49 | $209 | $196 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $3 | $35 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $6 | $63 | $78 |
| Taxis | $73 | $6 | $42 | $44 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $2 | $45 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $11 | $28 | $54 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $15 | $8 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $22 | $110 | $82 |
| Gym | $62 | $9 | $107 | $44 |
| Yoga | $139 | $23 | $105 | $142 |
| Massage | $89 | $15 | $54 | $64 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not 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. | 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, 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros |
| 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 | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | 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 | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 85 listings on Happy Cow |