Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ
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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Lviv ๐บ๐ฆ
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Medellin ๐จ๐ด
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 144,900 | 731,387 | 2,427,000 | 8,850,000 | 259,453 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Greek | Ukrainian | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | High | Very high | Low | High | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | Josรฉ Marรญa Cรณrdova International Airport (MDE) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | March - May, September - November | November - April | March - May, October - December | May - September | January - April, December | March - May, October, November | January - May, October - December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (โด) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $1549 | $974 | $1959 | $922 | $1293 | $1867 | $2143 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $932 | $618 | $274 | $678 | $400 | $732 | $778 | $923 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $121 | $129 | $169 | $157 | $91 | $87 | $281 | $127 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $403 | $269 | $108 | $261 | $151 | $131 | $182 | $207 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $32 | $45 | $56 | $21 | $18 | $49 | $42 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $151 | $95 | $209 | $79 | $96 | $159 | $160 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $27 | $11 | $35 | $4 | $16 | $25 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $55 | $60 | $63 | $5 | $21 | $11 | $17 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $48 | $21 | $20 | $42 | $12 | $14 | $9 | $9 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $49 | $10 | $45 | $16 | $0 | $24 | $49 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $19 | $8 | $28 | $13 | $8 | $81 | $97 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $15 | $8 | $8 | $9 | $9 | $20 | $217 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $43 | $62 | $110 | $43 | $73 | $64 | $77 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $81 | $36 | $41 | $107 | $22 | $15 | $69 | $42 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $93 | $56 | $55 | $105 | $30 | $54 | $65 | $54 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $59 | $30 | $10 | $54 | $27 | $20 | $51 | $101 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone, Kyivstar | Claro, Tigo | Telcel, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | 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 | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber, Bolt | Grab | nTaxi | Uber, Uklon | EasyTaxi | Uber | N/A | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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. | 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. | 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. | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | 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 | 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 | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | 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 | 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 | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | 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 | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 9 options on HappyCow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |