Austin 🇺🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population | 926,426 | 10,978,360 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 880,691 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Very high | Low | Low | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | January - March, December | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | December - April | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1097 | $1549 | $659 | $2359 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $480 | $618 | $354 | $1036 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $82 | $129 | $44 | $236 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $174 | $269 | $81 | $371 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $22 | $32 | $18 | $43 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $77 | $151 | $49 | $157 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $11 | $27 | $3 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $23 | $55 | $6 | $12 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $28 | $21 | $6 | $48 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $49 | $2 | $0 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $22 | $19 | $11 | $35 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $7 | $15 | $15 | $9 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $46 | $43 | $22 | $117 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $15 | $36 | $9 | $37 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $57 | $56 | $23 | $163 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $37 | $30 | $15 | $75 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Tigo, Movistar, Claro | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Claro, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Cabify | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, Tu Chofer | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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. | 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. | 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 | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. | 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 | Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja | 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 | Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del dÃa. Community markets and sports bars. | 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 | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 104 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow |