Austin vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Playa del Carmen

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Remove
Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
Remove
Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
Remove
Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
Remove
Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
Remove
Population 926,426 15,520,000 144,900 517,000 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Turkish Greek Portuguese Spanish
Level of English Very high Low High Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September, October January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $659 $1959 $1984 $2143
Rent $1650 $354 $678 $965 $923
Groceries $243 $44 $157 $136 $127
Dining out $396 $81 $261 $271 $207
Cafe $66 $18 $56 $37 $42
Coworking space $331 $49 $209 $164 $160
Mobile internet $40 $3 $35 $24 $21
Public transportation $110 $6 $63 $63 $17
Taxis $73 $6 $42 $27 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $2 $45 $18 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $11 $28 $29 $97
Museums and sights $11 $15 $8 $24 $217
Nightlife $124 $22 $110 $47 $77
Gym $62 $9 $107 $65 $42
Yoga $139 $23 $105 $65 $54
Massage $89 $15 $54 $50 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN 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 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow N/A
Tap water Drinkable Not 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 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 Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
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 Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
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 72 listings on Happy Cow