Austin vs Berlin vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Rio de Janeiro

Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 6,718,903
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Hungarian Turkish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Very high High Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September March - June, September - November April - June, September and October January - March, December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
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 No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1230 $659 $1833
Rent $1650 $939 $499 $354 $1066
Groceries $243 $188 $108 $44 $95
Dining out $396 $271 $202 $81 $210
Cafe $66 $57 $29 $18 $25
Coworking space $331 $174 $120 $49 $130
Mobile internet $40 $23 $9 $3 $7
Public transportation $110 $88 $36 $6 $33
Taxis $73 $58 $27 $6 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $13 $2 $16
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $24 $11 $55
Museums and sights $11 $37 $7 $15 $26
Nightlife $124 $63 $43 $22 $54
Gym $62 $66 $37 $9 $31
Yoga $139 $99 $48 $23 $40
Massage $89 $56 $26 $15 $32
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Tim, Claro, Vivo
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 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not 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. 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 Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
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 Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
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 The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow