Austin vs Istanbul vs Porto vs Prague vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 15,520,000 237,559 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Turkish Portuguese Czech Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low Very High High High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Istanbul Airport (IST) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September and October May - September June - October April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $659 $1759 $1806 $1289
Rent $1650 $354 $717 $780 $567
Groceries $243 $44 $148 $158 $10
Dining out $396 $81 $280 $240 $227
Cafe $66 $18 $45 $53 $27
Coworking space $331 $49 $96 $175 $140
Mobile internet $40 $3 $21 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $6 $95 $61 $30
Taxis $73 $6 $25 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $2 $10 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $11 $45 $19 $18
Museums and sights $11 $15 $24 $35 $12
Nightlife $124 $22 $66 $50 $82
Gym $62 $9 $56 $56 $23
Yoga $139 $23 $82 $66 $62
Massage $89 $15 $48 $37 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, MEO, NOS Vodafone, T-Mobile A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft BiTaksi Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable 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 variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. 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 Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés 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 46 options on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow