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Austin 🇺🇸
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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| Population | 926,426 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 2,427,000 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Turkish | Greek | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | High | Very high | Moderate | Low |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | January - April, December |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $659 | $1959 | $1984 | $2498 | $1293 |
| Rent | $1650 | $354 | $678 | $965 | $1174 | $732 |
| Groceries | $243 | $44 | $157 | $136 | $175 | $87 |
| Dining out | $396 | $81 | $261 | $271 | $313 | $131 |
| Cafe | $66 | $18 | $56 | $37 | $51 | $18 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $49 | $209 | $164 | $196 | $96 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $3 | $35 | $24 | $10 | $16 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $6 | $63 | $63 | $78 | $21 |
| Taxis | $73 | $6 | $42 | $27 | $44 | $14 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $2 | $45 | $18 | $49 | $0 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $11 | $28 | $29 | $54 | $8 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $15 | $8 | $24 | $20 | $9 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $22 | $110 | $47 | $82 | $73 |
| Gym | $62 | $9 | $107 | $65 | $44 | $15 |
| Yoga | $139 | $23 | $105 | $65 | $142 | $54 |
| Massage | $89 | $15 | $54 | $50 | $64 | $20 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Tigo |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | Tip 10% in restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | EasyTaxi |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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 | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats |
| Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa |
| 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 | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | 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! | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow |