Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 144,900 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Greek | Korean | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | High | High | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | March - May, October - December | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $1959 | $2184 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $932 | $678 | $797 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $121 | $157 | $356 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $403 | $261 | $211 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $45 | $56 | $69 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $209 | $222 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $35 | $40 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $63 | $40 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $48 | $42 | $41 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $45 | $13 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $28 | $39 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $8 | $6 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $110 | $93 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $81 | $107 | $69 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $93 | $105 | $112 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $59 | $54 | $75 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | 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% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | Not customary or expected | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | nTaxi | Uber, Kakao | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | 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. | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. | 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 | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | 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 | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | 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 | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |