Austin vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Playa del Carmen

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 15,520,000 6,578,0179 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Turkish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $659 $2498 $2143
Rent $1650 $499 $354 $1174 $923
Groceries $243 $108 $44 $175 $127
Dining out $396 $202 $81 $313 $207
Cafe $66 $29 $18 $51 $42
Coworking space $331 $120 $49 $196 $160
Mobile internet $40 $9 $3 $10 $21
Public transportation $110 $36 $6 $78 $17
Taxis $73 $27 $6 $44 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $2 $49 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $11 $54 $97
Museums and sights $11 $7 $15 $20 $217
Nightlife $124 $43 $22 $82 $77
Gym $62 $37 $9 $44 $42
Yoga $139 $48 $23 $142 $54
Massage $89 $26 $15 $64 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now N/A
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos 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 Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries 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! Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow