Austin vs Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Prague

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 15,520,000 2,427,000 1,305,737
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Turkish Spanish Czech
Level of English Very high High Low Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October April - June, September and October January - April, December June - October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted most places (some places are cash only)
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $659 $1293 $1806
Rent $1650 $615 $354 $732 $780
Groceries $243 $114 $44 $87 $158
Dining out $396 $165 $81 $131 $240
Cafe $66 $38 $18 $18 $53
Coworking space $331 $133 $49 $96 $175
Mobile internet $40 $7 $3 $16 $24
Public transportation $110 $21 $6 $21 $61
Taxis $73 $9 $6 $14 $33
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $2 $0 $19
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $11 $8 $19
Museums and sights $11 $29 $15 $9 $35
Nightlife $124 $45 $22 $73 $50
Gym $62 $30 $9 $15 $56
Yoga $139 $59 $23 $54 $66
Massage $89 $31 $15 $20 $37
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo Vodafone, T-Mobile
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber, Liftago
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. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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 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!
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow