Austin vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Prague

Austin 🇺🇸
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Population 926,426 4,617,560 15,520,000 517,000 1,305,737
Official language(s) English (de facto) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Portuguese Czech
Level of English Very high Very high Low Very high High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October June - October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted most places (some places are cash only)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1549 $659 $1984 $1806
Rent $1650 $618 $354 $965 $780
Groceries $243 $129 $44 $136 $158
Dining out $396 $269 $81 $271 $240
Cafe $66 $32 $18 $37 $53
Coworking space $331 $151 $49 $164 $175
Mobile internet $40 $27 $3 $24 $24
Public transportation $110 $55 $6 $63 $61
Taxis $73 $21 $6 $27 $33
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $49 $2 $18 $19
Sport and cultural events $54 $19 $11 $29 $19
Museums and sights $11 $15 $15 $24 $35
Nightlife $124 $43 $22 $47 $50
Gym $62 $36 $9 $65 $56
Yoga $139 $56 $23 $65 $66
Massage $89 $30 $15 $50 $37
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Vodafone, T-Mobile
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Liftago
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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 Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer!
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow