Austin vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Seoul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 15,520,000 9,963,452
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Turkish Korean
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $659 $2184
Rent $1650 $499 $354 $797
Groceries $243 $108 $44 $356
Dining out $396 $202 $81 $211
Cafe $66 $29 $18 $69
Coworking space $331 $120 $49 $222
Mobile internet $40 $9 $3 $40
Public transportation $110 $36 $6 $40
Taxis $73 $27 $6 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $2 $13
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $11 $39
Museums and sights $11 $7 $15 $6
Nightlife $124 $43 $22 $93
Gym $62 $37 $9 $69
Yoga $139 $48 $23 $112
Massage $89 $26 $15 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
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
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, Kakao
Tap water 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. 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 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 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 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow