Austin vs Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 15,520,000 2,427,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Turkish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Low Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October April - June, September and October January - April, December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $659 $1293 $1289
Rent $1650 $615 $354 $732 $567
Groceries $243 $114 $44 $87 $10
Dining out $396 $165 $81 $131 $227
Cafe $66 $38 $18 $18 $27
Coworking space $331 $133 $49 $96 $140
Mobile internet $40 $7 $3 $16 $10
Public transportation $110 $21 $6 $21 $30
Taxis $73 $9 $6 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $2 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $11 $8 $18
Museums and sights $11 $29 $15 $9 $12
Nightlife $124 $45 $22 $73 $82
Gym $62 $30 $9 $15 $23
Yoga $139 $59 $23 $54 $62
Massage $89 $31 $15 $20 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi EasyTaxi TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats 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 Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa 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 Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow