Austin 🇺🇸
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population | 926,426 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 731,387 | 1,305,737 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Turkish | Greek | Ukrainian | Czech | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | High | Low | High | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | May - September | June - October | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) | CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted most places (some places are cash only) | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $659 | $1959 | $922 | $1806 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $354 | $678 | $400 | $780 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $44 | $157 | $91 | $158 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $81 | $261 | $151 | $240 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $18 | $56 | $21 | $53 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $49 | $209 | $79 | $175 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $3 | $35 | $4 | $24 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $6 | $63 | $5 | $61 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $6 | $42 | $12 | $33 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $2 | $45 | $16 | $19 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $11 | $28 | $13 | $19 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $15 | $8 | $9 | $35 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $22 | $110 | $43 | $50 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $9 | $107 | $22 | $56 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $23 | $105 | $30 | $66 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $15 | $54 | $27 | $37 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone, Kyivstar | Vodafone, T-Mobile | 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 | 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere | 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, Uklon | Uber, Liftago | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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.. | Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). | 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. |
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 | Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky | Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. | 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. | Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries | Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés | 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 | 9 options on HappyCow | 112 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow |