Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Turkish | Greek | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | High | Low | High | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $659 | $1959 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $932 | $354 | $678 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $121 | $44 | $157 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $403 | $81 | $261 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $18 | $56 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $49 | $209 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $3 | $35 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $6 | $63 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $48 | $6 | $42 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $2 | $45 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $11 | $28 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $15 | $8 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $22 | $110 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $81 | $9 | $107 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $93 | $23 | $105 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $59 | $15 | $54 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | 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 | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | BiTaksi | nTaxi | 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 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.. | 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | 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 | 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. | 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 | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 20 options on HappyCow |