Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
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Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
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Valencia ๐ช๐ธ
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Population | 926,426 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 9,963,452 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Turkish | Spanish | Korean | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November | March - June, September, October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $659 | $2498 | $2184 | $1976 |
Rent | $1650 | $354 | $1174 | $797 | $869 |
Groceries | $243 | $44 | $175 | $356 | $146 |
Dining out | $396 | $81 | $313 | $211 | $292 |
Cafe | $66 | $18 | $51 | $69 | $42 |
Coworking space | $331 | $49 | $196 | $222 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $3 | $10 | $40 | $16 |
Public transportation | $110 | $6 | $78 | $40 | $38 |
Taxis | $73 | $6 | $44 | $41 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $2 | $49 | $13 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $11 | $54 | $39 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $15 | $20 | $6 | $44 |
Nightlife | $124 | $22 | $82 | $93 | $66 |
Gym | $62 | $9 | $44 | $69 | $34 |
Yoga | $139 | $23 | $142 | $112 | $87 |
Massage | $89 | $15 | $64 | $75 | $45 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | Vodafone, Orange |
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. | Not customary or expected | Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber, Kakao | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | 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. | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. | Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats |
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 | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | Paella, fideuร , esgarrat, orxata, bunyols |
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! | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches) |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |