Austin vs Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Prague vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 2,900,000 15,520,000 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Spanish Turkish Czech Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High High Low High High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November September - December April - June, September and October June - October April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $1321 $659 $1806 $1289
Rent $1650 $499 $844 $354 $780 $567
Groceries $243 $108 $98 $44 $158 $10
Dining out $396 $202 $121 $81 $240 $227
Cafe $66 $29 $25 $18 $53 $27
Coworking space $331 $120 $95 $49 $175 $140
Mobile internet $40 $9 $11 $3 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $36 $9 $6 $61 $30
Taxis $73 $27 $9 $6 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $14 $2 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $24 $11 $19 $18
Museums and sights $11 $7 $4 $15 $35 $12
Nightlife $124 $43 $23 $22 $50 $82
Gym $62 $37 $14 $9 $56 $23
Yoga $139 $48 $19 $23 $66 $62
Massage $89 $26 $10 $15 $37 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, T-Mobile A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi Uber, Liftago 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. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish 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 Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight 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 Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow