Austin vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Medellin vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
Remove
Istanbul 🇹🇷
Remove
Larnaca 🇨🇾
Remove
Lisbon 🇵🇹
Remove
Medellin 🇨🇴
Remove
Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
Remove
Sofia 🇧🇬
Remove
Population 926,426 15,520,000 144,900 517,000 2,427,000 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Turkish Greek Portuguese Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low High Very high Low Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Galeão International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September, October January - April, December January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $659 $1959 $1984 $1293 $1833 $1289
Rent $1650 $354 $678 $965 $732 $1066 $567
Groceries $243 $44 $157 $136 $87 $95 $10
Dining out $396 $81 $261 $271 $131 $210 $227
Cafe $66 $18 $56 $37 $18 $25 $27
Coworking space $331 $49 $209 $164 $96 $130 $140
Mobile internet $40 $3 $35 $24 $16 $7 $10
Public transportation $110 $6 $63 $63 $21 $33 $30
Taxis $73 $6 $42 $27 $14 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $2 $45 $18 $0 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $11 $28 $29 $8 $55 $18
Museums and sights $11 $15 $8 $24 $9 $26 $12
Nightlife $124 $22 $110 $47 $73 $54 $82
Gym $62 $9 $107 $65 $15 $31 $23
Yoga $139 $23 $105 $65 $54 $40 $62
Massage $89 $15 $54 $50 $20 $32 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Claro, Tigo Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Tip 10% in restaurants 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 BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow EasyTaxi Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food 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 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow