Austin vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Mexico City

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 926,426 10,978,360 1,830,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Spanish Romanian Hungarian Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high Low High High Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, December April - October March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1097 $1351 $1230 $659 $1867
Rent $1650 $480 $615 $499 $354 $778
Groceries $243 $82 $114 $108 $44 $281
Dining out $396 $174 $165 $202 $81 $182
Cafe $66 $22 $38 $29 $18 $49
Coworking space $331 $77 $133 $120 $49 $159
Mobile internet $40 $11 $7 $9 $3 $25
Public transportation $110 $23 $21 $36 $6 $11
Taxis $73 $28 $9 $27 $6 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $25 $13 $2 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $22 $29 $24 $11 $81
Museums and sights $11 $7 $29 $7 $15 $20
Nightlife $124 $46 $45 $43 $22 $64
Gym $62 $15 $30 $37 $9 $69
Yoga $139 $57 $59 $48 $23 $65
Massage $89 $37 $31 $26 $15 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow