Austin vs Barcelona vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Panama City vs Sofia vs Tbilisi vs Valencia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 10,978,360 1,830,000 1,166,978 880,691 1,270,169 1,108,700 834,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Spanish Romanian Thai Spanish Bulgarian Georgian Spanish, Valencian
Level of English Very high High Low High Low Low High Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) Valencia Manises Airport (VLC)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November January - March, December April - October November - April December - April April-June, September-October March - June March - June, September, October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (฿) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) GEL - Georgian Lari (₾) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $1097 $1351 $974 $2359 $1289 $1462 $1976
Rent $1650 $932 $480 $615 $274 $1036 $567 $752 $869
Groceries $243 $121 $82 $114 $169 $236 $10 $112 $146
Dining out $396 $403 $174 $165 $108 $371 $227 $169 $292
Cafe $66 $45 $22 $38 $45 $43 $27 $45 $42
Coworking space $331 $213 $77 $133 $95 $157 $140 $125 $152
Mobile internet $40 $10 $11 $7 $11 $21 $10 $4 $16
Public transportation $110 $127 $23 $21 $60 $12 $30 $8 $38
Taxis $73 $48 $28 $9 $20 $48 $12 $14 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $17 $25 $10 $0 $40 $27 $30
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $22 $29 $8 $35 $18 $21 $73
Museums and sights $11 $33 $7 $29 $8 $9 $12 $9 $44
Nightlife $124 $112 $46 $45 $62 $117 $82 $53 $66
Gym $62 $81 $15 $30 $41 $37 $23 $33 $34
Yoga $139 $93 $57 $59 $55 $163 $62 $37 $87
Massage $89 $59 $37 $31 $10 $75 $29 $53 $45
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Claro, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline Vodafone, Orange
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% 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% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés. Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Grab Uber, Tu Chofer TaxiMe, TaxiStars Yandex, Bolt Cabify, FreeNow
Tap water Drinkable 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli Paella, fideuà, esgarrat, orxata, bunyols
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 Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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. Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 7 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow 10 options on Happy Cow 98 listings on Happy Cow