Austin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs New York City vs Prague vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,768,073 8,323,340 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Hungarian English (de facto) Czech Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High High Very high High High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October March - June, September - November April - June, September - November June - October April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) USD - US Dollar ($) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1230 $5431 $1806 $1289
Rent $1650 $615 $499 $2891 $780 $567
Groceries $243 $114 $108 $383 $158 $10
Dining out $396 $165 $202 $656 $240 $227
Cafe $66 $38 $29 $72 $53 $27
Coworking space $331 $133 $120 $326 $175 $140
Mobile internet $40 $7 $9 $45 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $21 $36 $220 $61 $30
Taxis $73 $9 $27 $78 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $13 $30 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $24 $100 $19 $18
Museums and sights $11 $29 $7 $74 $35 $12
Nightlife $124 $45 $43 $195 $50 $82
Gym $62 $30 $37 $55 $56 $23
Yoga $139 $59 $48 $197 $66 $62
Massage $89 $31 $26 $109 $37 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AT&T, Verizon Vodafone, T-Mobile A1, Telenor, Vivacom
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 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Lyft Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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. American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! 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 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 Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. 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 Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 309 options on HappyCow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow