Austin vs Barbados vs Barcelona vs Bogota vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Barbados 🇧🇧
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 110,000 5,585,556 10,978,360 2,900,000 15,520,000 517,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) English, Bajan Creole Catalan, Spanish Spanish Spanish Turkish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Very high High Low High Low Very high High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - May April - June, September - November January - March, December September - December April - June, September and October March - May, September, October April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted almost evewhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2702 $2384 $1097 $1321 $659 $1984 $1289
Rent $1650 $1054 $932 $480 $844 $354 $965 $567
Groceries $243 $234 $121 $82 $98 $44 $136 $10
Dining out $396 $345 $403 $174 $121 $81 $271 $227
Cafe $66 $75 $45 $22 $25 $18 $37 $27
Coworking space $331 $321 $213 $77 $95 $49 $164 $140
Mobile internet $40 $49 $10 $11 $11 $3 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $35 $127 $23 $9 $6 $63 $30
Taxis $73 $106 $48 $28 $9 $6 $27 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $0 $24 $17 $14 $2 $18 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $37 $81 $22 $24 $11 $29 $18
Museums and sights $11 $36 $33 $7 $4 $15 $24 $12
Nightlife $124 $96 $112 $46 $23 $22 $47 $82
Gym $62 $86 $81 $15 $14 $9 $65 $23
Yoga $139 $130 $93 $57 $19 $23 $65 $62
Massage $89 $99 $59 $37 $10 $15 $50 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Digicel Vodafone, Movistar Tigo, Movistar, Claro Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft None available Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Cabify Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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. Bajan cuisine features an eclectic mix of European, Asian, and Caribbean styles resulting in bold, tasty and crunchy meat or fish dishes with lots of spices, lime juice, thyme and salads laden with local vegetables and hot side dishes. Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. 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. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries 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 Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana 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 trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 14 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow