Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Population | 926,426 | 3,400,000 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 8,053,663 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 2,427,000 | 259,453 | 1,270,169 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | German | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Vietnamese | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian | Georgian |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | High | Very high | Moderate | Low | Moderate | Low | Moderate | High | Low |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Ná»™i Bà i International Airport (HAN) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | May - September | April - October | March - May, September - November | January, February, October - December | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | January - April, December | January - May, October - December | April-June, September-October | March - June |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) | GEL - Georgian Lari (₾) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2200 | $1351 | $1549 | $1167 | $659 | $2498 | $1293 | $2143 | $1289 | $1462 |
Rent | $1650 | $939 | $615 | $618 | $503 | $354 | $1174 | $732 | $923 | $567 | $752 |
Groceries | $243 | $188 | $114 | $129 | $151 | $44 | $175 | $87 | $127 | $10 | $112 |
Dining out | $396 | $271 | $165 | $269 | $134 | $81 | $313 | $131 | $207 | $227 | $169 |
Cafe | $66 | $57 | $38 | $32 | $39 | $18 | $51 | $18 | $42 | $27 | $45 |
Coworking space | $331 | $174 | $133 | $151 | $72 | $49 | $196 | $96 | $160 | $140 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $23 | $7 | $27 | $4 | $3 | $10 | $16 | $21 | $10 | $4 |
Public transportation | $110 | $88 | $21 | $55 | $20 | $6 | $78 | $21 | $17 | $30 | $8 |
Taxis | $73 | $58 | $9 | $21 | $13 | $6 | $44 | $14 | $9 | $12 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $25 | $49 | $0 | $2 | $49 | $0 | $49 | $40 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $64 | $29 | $19 | $3 | $11 | $54 | $8 | $97 | $18 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $37 | $29 | $15 | $4 | $15 | $20 | $9 | $217 | $12 | $9 |
Nightlife | $124 | $63 | $45 | $43 | $89 | $22 | $82 | $73 | $77 | $82 | $53 |
Gym | $62 | $66 | $30 | $36 | $57 | $9 | $44 | $15 | $42 | $23 | $33 |
Yoga | $139 | $99 | $59 | $56 | $57 | $23 | $142 | $54 | $54 | $62 | $37 |
Massage | $89 | $56 | $31 | $30 | $21 | $15 | $64 | $20 | $101 | $29 | $53 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Viettel, Mobifone | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Tigo | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | 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 | Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés. |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Mytaxi, Uber | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Grab, GoViet | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | EasyTaxi | N/A | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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. | Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread | 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. | A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | 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. | Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. |
Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli |
Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | 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. | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 104 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow |