Austin vs Barcelona vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Seoul vs Sofia

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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Seoul ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 15,520,000 144,900 9,963,452 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Turkish Greek Korean Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Low High Moderate High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) KRW - South Korean won (โ‚ฉ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $659 $1959 $2184 $1289
Rent $1650 $932 $354 $678 $797 $567
Groceries $243 $121 $44 $157 $356 $10
Dining out $396 $403 $81 $261 $211 $227
Cafe $66 $45 $18 $56 $69 $27
Coworking space $331 $213 $49 $209 $222 $140
Mobile internet $40 $10 $3 $35 $40 $10
Public transportation $110 $127 $6 $63 $40 $30
Taxis $73 $48 $6 $42 $41 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $2 $45 $13 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $11 $28 $39 $18
Museums and sights $11 $33 $15 $8 $6 $12
Nightlife $124 $112 $22 $110 $93 $82
Gym $62 $81 $9 $107 $69 $23
Yoga $139 $93 $23 $105 $112 $62
Massage $89 $59 $15 $54 $75 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars Not customary or expected 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. 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 Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam 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 Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow