Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Bogota ๐จ๐ด
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Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Valencia ๐ช๐ธ
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Population | 926,426 | 10,978,360 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 880,691 | 1,270,169 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Spanish | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Spanish | Bulgarian | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | Very high | Low | High | Very high | Low | Low | High | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | January - March, December | April - October | March - May, September - November | November - April | December - April | April-June, September-October | March - June, September, October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1097 | $1351 | $1549 | $974 | $2359 | $1289 | $1976 |
Rent | $1650 | $480 | $615 | $618 | $274 | $1036 | $567 | $869 |
Groceries | $243 | $82 | $114 | $129 | $169 | $236 | $10 | $146 |
Dining out | $396 | $174 | $165 | $269 | $108 | $371 | $227 | $292 |
Cafe | $66 | $22 | $38 | $32 | $45 | $43 | $27 | $42 |
Coworking space | $331 | $77 | $133 | $151 | $95 | $157 | $140 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $11 | $7 | $27 | $11 | $21 | $10 | $16 |
Public transportation | $110 | $23 | $21 | $55 | $60 | $12 | $30 | $38 |
Taxis | $73 | $28 | $9 | $21 | $20 | $48 | $12 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $25 | $49 | $10 | $0 | $40 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $22 | $29 | $19 | $8 | $35 | $18 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $7 | $29 | $15 | $8 | $9 | $12 | $44 |
Nightlife | $124 | $46 | $45 | $43 | $62 | $117 | $82 | $66 |
Gym | $62 | $15 | $30 | $36 | $41 | $37 | $23 | $34 |
Yoga | $139 | $57 | $59 | $56 | $55 | $163 | $62 | $87 |
Massage | $89 | $37 | $31 | $30 | $10 | $75 | $29 | $45 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Tigo, Movistar, Claro | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Claro, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Vodafone, Orange |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service | 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 | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs | Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Cabify | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Grab | Uber, Tu Chofer | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. | Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. | 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. | 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. | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. | 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. | Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats |
Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buรฑuelos, patacones, tรฉ de coca, changua | Sarmale, mฤmฤligฤ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤ de burtฤ, covrig, papanasi | 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 | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Paella, fideuร , esgarrat, orxata, bunyols |
Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menรบ del dรญa. Community markets and sports bars. | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | 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 | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches) |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 104 options on Happy Cow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 7 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |