|
Austin ๐บ๐ธ
|
Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ
|
Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Porto ๐ต๐น
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
| Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 237,559 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Very high | High | High | Very high | Very High | High |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | April - October | March - May, September - November | May - September | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $1351 | $1549 | $1759 | $1289 |
| Rent | $1650 | $932 | $615 | $618 | $717 | $567 |
| Groceries | $243 | $121 | $114 | $129 | $148 | $10 |
| Dining out | $396 | $403 | $165 | $269 | $280 | $227 |
| Cafe | $66 | $45 | $38 | $32 | $45 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $133 | $151 | $96 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $7 | $27 | $21 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $21 | $55 | $95 | $30 |
| Taxis | $73 | $48 | $9 | $21 | $25 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $25 | $49 | $10 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $29 | $19 | $45 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $29 | $15 | $24 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $45 | $43 | $66 | $82 |
| Gym | $62 | $81 | $30 | $36 | $56 | $23 |
| Yoga | $139 | $93 | $59 | $56 | $82 | $62 |
| Massage | $89 | $59 | $31 | $30 | $48 | $29 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| 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 | 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 | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | 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. | 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | 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 | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Sarmale, mฤmฤligฤ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤ de burtฤ, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | 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 | 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 | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 98 options on HappyCow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |