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Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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| Population | 926,426 | 1,830,000 | 1,768,073 | 15,520,000 | 9,963,452 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Romanian | Hungarian | Turkish | Korean |
| Level of English | Very high | High | High | Low | Moderate |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - October | March - June, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | KRW - South Korean won (₩) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | No |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1351 | $1230 | $659 | $2184 |
| Rent | $1650 | $615 | $499 | $354 | $797 |
| Groceries | $243 | $114 | $108 | $44 | $356 |
| Dining out | $396 | $165 | $202 | $81 | $211 |
| Cafe | $66 | $38 | $29 | $18 | $69 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $133 | $120 | $49 | $222 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $7 | $9 | $3 | $40 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $21 | $36 | $6 | $40 |
| Taxis | $73 | $9 | $27 | $6 | $41 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $25 | $13 | $2 | $13 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $29 | $24 | $11 | $39 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $29 | $7 | $15 | $6 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $45 | $43 | $22 | $93 |
| Gym | $62 | $30 | $37 | $9 | $69 |
| Yoga | $139 | $59 | $48 | $23 | $112 |
| Massage | $89 | $31 | $26 | $15 | $75 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Orange | Vodafone, Telenor | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 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 | Not customary or expected |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Star Taxi, Uber | Bolt, Fotaxi | BiTaksi | Uber, Kakao |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not 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. | 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 | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. |
| Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | 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 | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam |
| Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | 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 | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 47 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow |