|
Austin 🇺🇸
|
Berlin 🇩🇪
|
Istanbul 🇹🇷
|
Sofia 🇧🇬
|
Valencia 🇪🇸
|
|
| Population | 926,426 | 3,400,000 | 15,520,000 | 1,270,169 | 834,000 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | German | Turkish | Bulgarian | Spanish, Valencian |
| Level of English | Very high | Very high | Low | High | Moderate |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | May - September | April - June, September and October | April-June, September-October | March - June, September, October |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2200 | $659 | $1289 | $1976 |
| Rent | $1650 | $939 | $354 | $567 | $869 |
| Groceries | $243 | $188 | $44 | $10 | $146 |
| Dining out | $396 | $271 | $81 | $227 | $292 |
| Cafe | $66 | $57 | $18 | $27 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $174 | $49 | $140 | $152 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $23 | $3 | $10 | $16 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $88 | $6 | $30 | $38 |
| Taxis | $73 | $58 | $6 | $12 | $42 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $2 | $40 | $30 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $64 | $11 | $18 | $73 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $37 | $15 | $12 | $44 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $63 | $22 | $82 | $66 |
| Gym | $62 | $66 | $9 | $23 | $34 |
| Yoga | $139 | $99 | $23 | $62 | $87 |
| Massage | $89 | $56 | $15 | $29 | $45 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Vodafone, Orange |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés | Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Mytaxi, Uber | BiTaksi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Cabify, FreeNow |
| Tap water | Drinkable | 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. | Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | 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 | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Paella, fideuà , esgarrat, orxata, bunyols |
| Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | 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 | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |