Austin vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Porto

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Porto ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Population 926,426 4,617,560 15,520,000 517,000 237,559
Official language(s) English (de facto) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Portuguese Portuguese
Level of English Very high Very high Low Very high Very High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October May - September
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1549 $659 $1984 $1759
Rent $1650 $618 $354 $965 $717
Groceries $243 $129 $44 $136 $148
Dining out $396 $269 $81 $271 $280
Cafe $66 $32 $18 $37 $45
Coworking space $331 $151 $49 $164 $96
Mobile internet $40 $27 $3 $24 $21
Public transportation $110 $55 $6 $63 $95
Taxis $73 $21 $6 $27 $25
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $49 $2 $18 $10
Sport and cultural events $54 $19 $11 $29 $45
Museums and sights $11 $15 $15 $24 $24
Nightlife $124 $43 $22 $47 $66
Gym $62 $36 $9 $65 $56
Yoga $139 $56 $23 $65 $82
Massage $89 $30 $15 $50 $48
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Vodafone, MEO, NOS
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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 sautรฉed 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 seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow