Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Valencia ๐ช๐ธ
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Population | 926,426 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 880,691 | 1,270,169 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Turkish | Greek | Spanish | Bulgarian | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | High | Low | High | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | December - April | April-June, September-October | March - June, September, October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $659 | $1959 | $2359 | $1289 | $1976 |
Rent | $1650 | $354 | $678 | $1036 | $567 | $869 |
Groceries | $243 | $44 | $157 | $236 | $10 | $146 |
Dining out | $396 | $81 | $261 | $371 | $227 | $292 |
Cafe | $66 | $18 | $56 | $43 | $27 | $42 |
Coworking space | $331 | $49 | $209 | $157 | $140 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $3 | $35 | $21 | $10 | $16 |
Public transportation | $110 | $6 | $63 | $12 | $30 | $38 |
Taxis | $73 | $6 | $42 | $48 | $12 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $2 | $45 | $0 | $40 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $11 | $28 | $35 | $18 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $15 | $8 | $9 | $12 | $44 |
Nightlife | $124 | $22 | $110 | $117 | $82 | $66 |
Gym | $62 | $9 | $107 | $37 | $23 | $34 |
Yoga | $139 | $23 | $105 | $163 | $62 | $87 |
Massage | $89 | $15 | $54 | $75 | $29 | $45 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Claro, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Vodafone, Orange |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs | Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, Tu Chofer | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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 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.. | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. | 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Paella, fideuร , esgarrat, orxata, bunyols |
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. | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | 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 | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 7 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |