Austin vs Istanbul vs Madrid

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 926,426 15,520,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) English (de facto) Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $659 $2498
Rent $1650 $354 $1174
Groceries $243 $44 $175
Dining out $396 $81 $313
Cafe $66 $18 $51
Coworking space $331 $49 $196
Mobile internet $40 $3 $10
Public transportation $110 $6 $78
Taxis $73 $6 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $2 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $11 $54
Museums and sights $11 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $22 $82
Gym $62 $9 $44
Yoga $139 $23 $142
Massage $89 $15 $64
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Turkcell, Turk Telekom 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 Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water 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 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 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 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 85 listings on Happy Cow