Austin vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Prague vs Sofia vs Valencia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population 926,426 8,053,663 15,520,000 1,305,737 1,270,169 834,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Vietnamese Turkish Czech Bulgarian Spanish, Valencian
Level of English Very high Moderate Low High High Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Valencia Manises Airport (VLC)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January, February, October - December April - June, September and October June - October April-June, September-October March - June, September, October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1167 $659 $1806 $1289 $1976
Rent $1650 $503 $354 $780 $567 $869
Groceries $243 $151 $44 $158 $10 $146
Dining out $396 $134 $81 $240 $227 $292
Cafe $66 $39 $18 $53 $27 $42
Coworking space $331 $72 $49 $175 $140 $152
Mobile internet $40 $4 $3 $24 $10 $16
Public transportation $110 $20 $6 $61 $30 $38
Taxis $73 $13 $6 $33 $12 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $0 $2 $19 $40 $30
Sport and cultural events $54 $3 $11 $19 $18 $73
Museums and sights $11 $4 $15 $35 $12 $44
Nightlife $124 $89 $22 $50 $82 $66
Gym $62 $57 $9 $56 $23 $34
Yoga $139 $57 $23 $66 $62 $87
Massage $89 $21 $15 $37 $29 $45
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, T-Mobile A1, Telenor, Vivacom Vodafone, Orange
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 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 Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars Cabify, FreeNow
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. 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! 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. 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 Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés 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 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow 98 listings on Happy Cow