Austin vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Mexico City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 15,520,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Turkish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $659 $2498 $1867
Rent $1650 $354 $1174 $778
Groceries $243 $44 $175 $281
Dining out $396 $81 $313 $182
Cafe $66 $18 $51 $49
Coworking space $331 $49 $196 $159
Mobile internet $40 $3 $10 $25
Public transportation $110 $6 $78 $11
Taxis $73 $6 $44 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $2 $49 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $11 $54 $81
Museums and sights $11 $15 $20 $20
Nightlife $124 $22 $82 $64
Gym $62 $9 $44 $69
Yoga $139 $23 $142 $65
Massage $89 $15 $64 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
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. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
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 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 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! Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow