Austin ๐บ๐ธ
|
Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
Porto ๐ต๐น
|
Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
|
|
Population | 926,426 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 8,850,000 | 237,559 | 9,963,452 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Turkish | Greek | Spanish | Portuguese | Korean |
Level of English | Very high | Low | High | Moderate | Very High | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | March - May, October, November | May - September | March - May, September - November |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $659 | $1959 | $1867 | $1759 | $2184 |
Rent | $1650 | $354 | $678 | $778 | $717 | $797 |
Groceries | $243 | $44 | $157 | $281 | $148 | $356 |
Dining out | $396 | $81 | $261 | $182 | $280 | $211 |
Cafe | $66 | $18 | $56 | $49 | $45 | $69 |
Coworking space | $331 | $49 | $209 | $159 | $96 | $222 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $3 | $35 | $25 | $21 | $40 |
Public transportation | $110 | $6 | $63 | $11 | $95 | $40 |
Taxis | $73 | $6 | $42 | $9 | $25 | $41 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $2 | $45 | $24 | $10 | $13 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $11 | $28 | $81 | $45 | $39 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $15 | $8 | $20 | $24 | $6 |
Nightlife | $124 | $22 | $110 | $64 | $66 | $93 |
Gym | $62 | $9 | $107 | $69 | $56 | $69 |
Yoga | $139 | $23 | $105 | $65 | $82 | $112 |
Massage | $89 | $15 | $54 | $51 | $48 | $75 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Telcel, Movistar | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | Not customary or expected |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Uber, Kakao |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not 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. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | 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 | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow |