Austin 🇺🇸
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population | 926,426 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 1,305,737 | 6,718,903 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Czech | Portuguese | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | Low | High | Low | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) | Galeão International Airport | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | June - October | January - March, December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) | BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted most places (some places are cash only) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1549 | $659 | $1806 | $1833 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $618 | $354 | $780 | $1066 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $129 | $44 | $158 | $95 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $269 | $81 | $240 | $210 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $32 | $18 | $53 | $25 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $151 | $49 | $175 | $130 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $27 | $3 | $24 | $7 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $55 | $6 | $61 | $33 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $21 | $6 | $33 | $14 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $49 | $2 | $19 | $16 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $19 | $11 | $19 | $55 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $15 | $15 | $35 | $26 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $43 | $22 | $50 | $54 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $36 | $9 | $56 | $31 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $56 | $23 | $66 | $40 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $30 | $15 | $37 | $32 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone, T-Mobile | Tim, Claro, Vivo | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
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 | 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere | 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, Liftago | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | 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 | 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! | Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. | 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 | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. | Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. | 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 | 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 | Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés | The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 112 options on HappyCow | 54 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |