Austin vs Barcelona vs Istanbul vs Mexico City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 15,520,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $659 $1867
Rent $1650 $932 $354 $778
Groceries $243 $121 $44 $281
Dining out $396 $403 $81 $182
Cafe $66 $45 $18 $49
Coworking space $331 $213 $49 $159
Mobile internet $40 $10 $3 $25
Public transportation $110 $127 $6 $11
Taxis $73 $48 $6 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $2 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $11 $81
Museums and sights $11 $33 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $112 $22 $64
Gym $62 $81 $9 $69
Yoga $139 $93 $23 $65
Massage $89 $59 $15 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow BiTaksi Uber
Tap water Drinkable 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. Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight 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 Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow