Austin vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Mexico City

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 15,520,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $659 $1867
Rent $1650 $499 $354 $778
Groceries $243 $108 $44 $281
Dining out $396 $202 $81 $182
Cafe $66 $29 $18 $49
Coworking space $331 $120 $49 $159
Mobile internet $40 $9 $3 $25
Public transportation $110 $36 $6 $11
Taxis $73 $27 $6 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $2 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $11 $81
Museums and sights $11 $7 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $43 $22 $64
Gym $62 $37 $9 $69
Yoga $139 $48 $23 $65
Massage $89 $26 $15 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi 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. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. 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 Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, 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 Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow