Austin vs Bangkok vs Bogota vs Istanbul vs Prague vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
Remove
Bangkok 🇹🇭
Remove
Bogota 🇨🇴
Remove
Istanbul 🇹🇷
Remove
Prague 🇨🇿
Remove
Sofia 🇧🇬
Remove
Population 926,426 5,680,000 10,978,360 15,520,000 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Spanish Turkish Czech Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low Low Low High High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Istanbul Airport (IST) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December January - March, December April - June, September and October June - October April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) COP - Colombian Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1097 $659 $1806 $1289
Rent $1650 $616 $480 $354 $780 $567
Groceries $243 $191 $82 $44 $158 $10
Dining out $396 $168 $174 $81 $240 $227
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $18 $53 $27
Coworking space $331 $127 $77 $49 $175 $140
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $3 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $32 $23 $6 $61 $30
Taxis $73 $19 $28 $6 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $17 $2 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $22 $11 $19 $18
Museums and sights $11 $21 $7 $15 $35 $12
Nightlife $124 $50 $46 $22 $50 $82
Gym $62 $96 $15 $9 $56 $23
Yoga $139 $98 $57 $23 $66 $62
Massage $89 $11 $37 $15 $37 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Tigo, Movistar, Claro Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, T-Mobile A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Uber, Cabify BiTaksi Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow