Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Valencia ๐ช๐ธ
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Population | 926,426 | 1,166,978 | 15,520,000 | 1,270,169 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Thai | Turkish | Bulgarian | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Low | High | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | November - April | April - June, September and October | April-June, September-October | March - June, September, October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $974 | $659 | $1289 | $1976 |
Rent | $1650 | $274 | $354 | $567 | $869 |
Groceries | $243 | $169 | $44 | $10 | $146 |
Dining out | $396 | $108 | $81 | $227 | $292 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $18 | $27 | $42 |
Coworking space | $331 | $95 | $49 | $140 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $11 | $3 | $10 | $16 |
Public transportation | $110 | $60 | $6 | $30 | $38 |
Taxis | $73 | $20 | $6 | $12 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $10 | $2 | $40 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $8 | $11 | $18 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $8 | $15 | $12 | $44 |
Nightlife | $124 | $62 | $22 | $82 | $66 |
Gym | $62 | $41 | $9 | $23 | $34 |
Yoga | $139 | $55 | $23 | $62 | $87 |
Massage | $89 | $10 | $15 | $29 | $45 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | AIS, DTAC | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Vodafone, Orange |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 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 | Grab | BiTaksi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | 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. | Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. | 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 | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | 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 | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | 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 | 90 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |