Austin vs Berlin vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Madrid

Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 2,900,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high High Very high Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September September - December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1321 $1549 $659 $2498
Rent $1650 $939 $844 $618 $354 $1174
Groceries $243 $188 $98 $129 $44 $175
Dining out $396 $271 $121 $269 $81 $313
Cafe $66 $57 $25 $32 $18 $51
Coworking space $331 $174 $95 $151 $49 $196
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $27 $3 $10
Public transportation $110 $88 $9 $55 $6 $78
Taxis $73 $58 $9 $21 $6 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $14 $49 $2 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $24 $19 $11 $54
Museums and sights $11 $37 $4 $15 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $63 $23 $43 $22 $82
Gym $62 $66 $14 $36 $9 $44
Yoga $139 $99 $19 $56 $23 $142
Massage $89 $56 $10 $30 $15 $64
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom 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% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. 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 Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow 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 restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets 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 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow