Austin vs Berlin vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Sofia vs Valencia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 1,270,169 834,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Bulgarian Spanish, Valencian
Level of English Very high Very high Very high Low High Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Valencia Manises Airport (VLC)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September March - May, September - November April - June, September and October April-June, September-October March - June, September, October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1549 $659 $1289 $1976
Rent $1650 $939 $618 $354 $567 $869
Groceries $243 $188 $129 $44 $10 $146
Dining out $396 $271 $269 $81 $227 $292
Cafe $66 $57 $32 $18 $27 $42
Coworking space $331 $174 $151 $49 $140 $152
Mobile internet $40 $23 $27 $3 $10 $16
Public transportation $110 $88 $55 $6 $30 $38
Taxis $73 $58 $21 $6 $12 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $49 $2 $40 $30
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $19 $11 $18 $73
Museums and sights $11 $37 $15 $15 $12 $44
Nightlife $124 $63 $43 $22 $82 $66
Gym $62 $66 $36 $9 $23 $34
Yoga $139 $99 $56 $23 $62 $87
Massage $89 $56 $30 $15 $29 $45
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom A1, Telenor, Vivacom Vodafone, Orange
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi TaxiMe, TaxiStars Cabify, FreeNow
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. 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. Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Paella, fideuà, esgarrat, orxata, bunyols
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets 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. Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 98 listings on Happy Cow