Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹ðŸ‡
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Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 3,400,000 | 10,978,360 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | German | Spanish | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai |
Level of English | Very high | High | Very high | Low | High | Very high | Low |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | May - September | January - March, December | April - October | March - May, September - November | November - April |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (฿) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $2200 | $1097 | $1351 | $1549 | $974 |
Rent | $1650 | $932 | $939 | $480 | $615 | $618 | $274 |
Groceries | $243 | $121 | $188 | $82 | $114 | $129 | $169 |
Dining out | $396 | $403 | $271 | $174 | $165 | $269 | $108 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $57 | $22 | $38 | $32 | $45 |
Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $174 | $77 | $133 | $151 | $95 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $23 | $11 | $7 | $27 | $11 |
Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $88 | $23 | $21 | $55 | $60 |
Taxis | $73 | $48 | $58 | $28 | $9 | $21 | $20 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $17 | $17 | $25 | $49 | $10 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $64 | $22 | $29 | $19 | $8 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $37 | $7 | $29 | $15 | $8 |
Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $63 | $46 | $45 | $43 | $62 |
Gym | $62 | $81 | $66 | $15 | $30 | $36 | $41 |
Yoga | $139 | $93 | $99 | $57 | $59 | $56 | $55 |
Massage | $89 | $59 | $56 | $37 | $31 | $30 | $10 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | Tigo, Movistar, Claro | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | Round up for restaurants, not common for 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, round up elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Mytaxi, Uber | Uber, Cabify | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Grab |
Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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. | 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. | Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread | 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. | 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. | Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. |
Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua |
Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del dÃa. Community markets and sports bars. | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 98 options on HappyCow | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 104 options on Happy Cow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow |