Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 4,617,560 | 731,387 | 2,427,000 | 1,305,737 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Ukrainian | Spanish | Czech | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | High | Very high | Low | Low | High | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | March - May, September - November | May - September | January - April, December | June - October | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places | Accepted most places (some places are cash only) | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $1549 | $922 | $1293 | $1806 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $932 | $618 | $400 | $732 | $780 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $121 | $129 | $91 | $87 | $158 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $403 | $269 | $151 | $131 | $240 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $32 | $21 | $18 | $53 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $151 | $79 | $96 | $175 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $27 | $4 | $16 | $24 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $55 | $5 | $21 | $61 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $48 | $21 | $12 | $14 | $33 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $49 | $16 | $0 | $19 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $19 | $13 | $8 | $19 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $15 | $9 | $9 | $35 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $43 | $43 | $73 | $50 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $81 | $36 | $22 | $15 | $56 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $93 | $56 | $30 | $54 | $66 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $59 | $30 | $27 | $20 | $37 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone, Kyivstar | Claro, Tigo | Vodafone, T-Mobile | 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% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber, Bolt | Uber, Uklon | EasyTaxi | Uber, Liftago | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | 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. | 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 sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | 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 | Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! | 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 tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. | 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 | Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés | 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 | 9 options on HappyCow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 112 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow |