Austin vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Playa del Carmen vs Prague vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 4,617,560 259,453 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish Czech Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Very high Moderate High High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October March - May, September - November January - May, October - December June - October April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1549 $2143 $1806 $1289
Rent $1650 $615 $618 $923 $780 $567
Groceries $243 $114 $129 $127 $158 $10
Dining out $396 $165 $269 $207 $240 $227
Cafe $66 $38 $32 $42 $53 $27
Coworking space $331 $133 $151 $160 $175 $140
Mobile internet $40 $7 $27 $21 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $21 $55 $17 $61 $30
Taxis $73 $9 $21 $9 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $49 $49 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $19 $97 $19 $18
Museums and sights $11 $29 $15 $217 $35 $12
Nightlife $124 $45 $43 $77 $50 $82
Gym $62 $30 $36 $42 $56 $23
Yoga $139 $59 $56 $54 $66 $62
Massage $89 $31 $30 $101 $37 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Telcel, Movistar 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, round up elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants 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 Uber, Bolt N/A Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. 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. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices 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 Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole 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 Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's 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 24 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow