Austin vs Bangkok vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Cape Town

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 10,978,360 1,830,000 1,768,073 4,617,560
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Spanish Romanian Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English
Level of English Very high Low Low High High Very high
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December January - March, December April - October March - June, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1097 $1351 $1230 $1549
Rent $1650 $616 $480 $615 $499 $618
Groceries $243 $191 $82 $114 $108 $129
Dining out $396 $168 $174 $165 $202 $269
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $38 $29 $32
Coworking space $331 $127 $77 $133 $120 $151
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $7 $9 $27
Public transportation $110 $32 $23 $21 $36 $55
Taxis $73 $19 $28 $9 $27 $21
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $17 $25 $13 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $22 $29 $24 $19
Museums and sights $11 $21 $7 $29 $7 $15
Nightlife $124 $50 $46 $45 $43 $43
Gym $62 $96 $15 $30 $37 $36
Yoga $139 $98 $57 $59 $48 $56
Massage $89 $11 $37 $31 $26 $30
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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. 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.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow