Austin vs Berlin vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Madrid

Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Hungarian Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high High Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1230 $659 $2498
Rent $1650 $939 $499 $354 $1174
Groceries $243 $188 $108 $44 $175
Dining out $396 $271 $202 $81 $313
Cafe $66 $57 $29 $18 $51
Coworking space $331 $174 $120 $49 $196
Mobile internet $40 $23 $9 $3 $10
Public transportation $110 $88 $36 $6 $78
Taxis $73 $58 $27 $6 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $13 $2 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $24 $11 $54
Museums and sights $11 $37 $7 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $63 $43 $22 $82
Gym $62 $66 $37 $9 $44
Yoga $139 $99 $48 $23 $142
Massage $89 $56 $26 $15 $64
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not 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. Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich 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.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants 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!
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow