Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 926,426 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 259,453 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | High | Very high | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - October | March - May, September - November | January - May, October - December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1351 | $1549 | $2143 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $615 | $618 | $923 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $114 | $129 | $127 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $165 | $269 | $207 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $38 | $32 | $42 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $133 | $151 | $160 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $7 | $27 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $21 | $55 | $17 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $9 | $21 | $9 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $25 | $49 | $49 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $29 | $19 | $97 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $29 | $15 | $217 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $45 | $43 | $77 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $30 | $36 | $42 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $59 | $56 | $54 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $31 | $30 | $101 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Telcel, Movistar | 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% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | N/A | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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 sautรฉed 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 | 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, mฤmฤligฤ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤ de burtฤ, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | 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 | 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 | 20 options on HappyCow |