Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Bangkok ๐น๐ญ
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Bogota ๐จ๐ด
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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
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Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 926,426 | 5,680,000 | 10,978,360 | 4,617,560 | 6,578,0179 | 880,691 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Thai | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Low | Very high | Moderate | Low | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | January - March, November, December | January - March, December | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November | December - April | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1560 | $1097 | $1549 | $2498 | $2359 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $616 | $480 | $618 | $1174 | $1036 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $191 | $82 | $129 | $175 | $236 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $168 | $174 | $269 | $313 | $371 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $22 | $32 | $51 | $43 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $127 | $77 | $151 | $196 | $157 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $23 | $11 | $27 | $10 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $32 | $23 | $55 | $78 | $12 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $19 | $28 | $21 | $44 | $48 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $17 | $49 | $49 | $0 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $46 | $22 | $19 | $54 | $35 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $21 | $7 | $15 | $20 | $9 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $50 | $46 | $43 | $82 | $117 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $96 | $15 | $36 | $44 | $37 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $98 | $57 | $56 | $142 | $163 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $11 | $37 | $30 | $64 | $75 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | AIS | Tigo, Movistar, Claro | MTN, Vodacom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
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 | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Grab | Uber, Cabify | Uber, Bolt | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber, Tu Chofer | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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. | 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. | 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 | Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan | Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buรฑuelos, patacones, tรฉ de coca, changua | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja | 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 | Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants | Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menรบ del dรญa. Community markets and sports bars. | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 104 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow |