Austin vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Sofia

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Medellin ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 926,426 15,520,000 2,427,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Turkish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Istanbul Airport (IST) Josรฉ Marรญa Cรณrdova International Airport (MDE) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) COP - Colombian Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $659 $1293 $1289
Rent $1650 $354 $732 $567
Groceries $243 $44 $87 $10
Dining out $396 $81 $131 $227
Cafe $66 $18 $18 $27
Coworking space $331 $49 $96 $140
Mobile internet $40 $3 $16 $10
Public transportation $110 $6 $21 $30
Taxis $73 $6 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $2 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $11 $8 $18
Museums and sights $11 $15 $9 $12
Nightlife $124 $22 $73 $82
Gym $62 $9 $15 $23
Yoga $139 $23 $54 $62
Massage $89 $15 $20 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft BiTaksi EasyTaxi TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water 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 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 Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, 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 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 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow