Austin ๐บ๐ธ
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Lisbon ๐ต๐น
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
|
Population | 926,426 | 144,900 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Greek | Portuguese | Spanish |
Level of English | Very high | High | Very high | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, October - December | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1959 | $1984 | $2498 |
Rent | $1650 | $678 | $965 | $1174 |
Groceries | $243 | $157 | $136 | $175 |
Dining out | $396 | $261 | $271 | $313 |
Cafe | $66 | $56 | $37 | $51 |
Coworking space | $331 | $209 | $164 | $196 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $35 | $24 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $63 | $63 | $78 |
Taxis | $73 | $42 | $27 | $44 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $45 | $18 | $49 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $28 | $29 | $54 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $8 | $24 | $20 |
Nightlife | $124 | $110 | $47 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $107 | $65 | $44 |
Yoga | $139 | $105 | $65 | $142 |
Massage | $89 | $54 | $50 | $64 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes 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. |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | nTaxi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not 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. | 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. |
Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau ร bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros |
Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | 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! |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |