Austin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Madrid vs Porto vs Ubud

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Ubud 🇮🇩
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,768,073 2,900,000 4,617,560 6,578,0179 237,559 112,490
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Hungarian Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish Portuguese Indonesian and Balinese
Level of English Very high High High High Very high Moderate Very High Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPA)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October March - June, September - November September - December March - May, September - November March - May, September - November May - September May - October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) IDR - Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1230 $1321 $1549 $2498 $1759 $1363
Rent $1650 $615 $499 $844 $618 $1174 $717 $658
Groceries $243 $114 $108 $98 $129 $175 $148 $150
Dining out $396 $165 $202 $121 $269 $313 $280 $10
Cafe $66 $38 $29 $25 $32 $51 $45 $28
Coworking space $331 $133 $120 $95 $151 $196 $96 $106
Mobile internet $40 $7 $9 $11 $27 $10 $21 $3
Public transportation $110 $21 $36 $9 $55 $78 $95 $53
Taxis $73 $9 $27 $9 $21 $44 $25 $13
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $13 $14 $49 $49 $10 $33
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $24 $24 $19 $54 $45 $14
Museums and sights $11 $29 $7 $4 $15 $20 $24 $9
Nightlife $124 $45 $43 $23 $43 $82 $66 $118
Gym $62 $30 $37 $14 $36 $44 $56 $72
Yoga $139 $59 $48 $19 $56 $142 $82 $87
Massage $89 $31 $26 $10 $30 $64 $48 $10
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Vodafone, MEO, NOS Telkomsel, XL Axiata
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars Tip 5 - 10% in restaurants if service charge is not included in the bill
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify Grab, GoJek
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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. 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 variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. Balinese foods revolve on the complex flavors from certain ingredients like fresh vegetables, meat, coconut milk, and time-tested spices mixture.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Satay, nasi goreng, gado-gado, martabak, bubur sumsum
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets 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! Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Warung for authentic babi guling and bebek betutu, cafes for kopi luwak, street stalls for pisang goreng, nasi campur, and sate lilit
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 255 listings on Happy Cow