Austin 🇺🇸
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Bangkok 🇹ðŸ‡
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population | 926,426 | 5,680,000 | 5,585,556 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 9,963,452 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Thai | Catalan, Spanish | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Korean | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | High | High | Very high | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | January - March, November, December | April - June, September - November | April - October | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | March - June, September, October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | THB - Thai Baht (฿) | EUR - Euro (€) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | KRW - South Korean won (₩) | EUR - Euro (€) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1560 | $2384 | $1351 | $1549 | $659 | $2184 | $1976 |
Rent | $1650 | $616 | $932 | $615 | $618 | $354 | $797 | $869 |
Groceries | $243 | $191 | $121 | $114 | $129 | $44 | $356 | $146 |
Dining out | $396 | $168 | $403 | $165 | $269 | $81 | $211 | $292 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $45 | $38 | $32 | $18 | $69 | $42 |
Coworking space | $331 | $127 | $213 | $133 | $151 | $49 | $222 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $23 | $10 | $7 | $27 | $3 | $40 | $16 |
Public transportation | $110 | $32 | $127 | $21 | $55 | $6 | $40 | $38 |
Taxis | $73 | $19 | $48 | $9 | $21 | $6 | $41 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $24 | $25 | $49 | $2 | $13 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $46 | $81 | $29 | $19 | $11 | $39 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $21 | $33 | $29 | $15 | $15 | $6 | $44 |
Nightlife | $124 | $50 | $112 | $45 | $43 | $22 | $93 | $66 |
Gym | $62 | $96 | $81 | $30 | $36 | $9 | $69 | $34 |
Yoga | $139 | $98 | $93 | $59 | $56 | $23 | $112 | $87 |
Massage | $89 | $11 | $59 | $31 | $30 | $15 | $75 | $45 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | AIS | Vodafone, Movistar | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | Vodafone, Orange |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected | Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Grab | Cabify, FreeNow | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, Kakao | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup | 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. | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. | South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. | Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats |
Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | Paella, fideuà , esgarrat, orxata, bunyols |
Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches) |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 98 options on HappyCow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |