Austin vs Barcelona vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Sofia

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Remove
Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
Remove
Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
Remove
Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
Remove
Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
Remove
Population 926,426 5,585,556 8,053,663 15,520,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Vietnamese Turkish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Moderate Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November January, February, October - December April - June, September and October April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $1167 $659 $1289
Rent $1650 $932 $503 $354 $567
Groceries $243 $121 $151 $44 $10
Dining out $396 $403 $134 $81 $227
Cafe $66 $45 $39 $18 $27
Coworking space $331 $213 $72 $49 $140
Mobile internet $40 $10 $4 $3 $10
Public transportation $110 $127 $20 $6 $30
Taxis $73 $48 $13 $6 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $0 $2 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $3 $11 $18
Museums and sights $11 $33 $4 $15 $12
Nightlife $124 $112 $89 $22 $82
Gym $62 $81 $57 $9 $23
Yoga $139 $93 $57 $23 $62
Massage $89 $59 $21 $15 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Grab, GoViet BiTaksi TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. 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. A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish 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 Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight 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 Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow