Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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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 | 1,166,978 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 8,323,340 | 1,305,737 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Romanian | Thai | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | English (de facto) | Czech | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | High | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Very high | High | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | 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 | November - April | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | April - June, September - November | June - October | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | THB - Thai Baht (฿) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | USD - US Dollar ($) | CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted most places (some places are cash only) | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1351 | $974 | $659 | $2498 | $1867 | $5431 | $1806 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $615 | $274 | $354 | $1174 | $778 | $2891 | $780 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $114 | $169 | $44 | $175 | $281 | $383 | $158 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $165 | $108 | $81 | $313 | $182 | $656 | $240 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $38 | $45 | $18 | $51 | $49 | $72 | $53 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $133 | $95 | $49 | $196 | $159 | $326 | $175 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $7 | $11 | $3 | $10 | $25 | $45 | $24 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $21 | $60 | $6 | $78 | $11 | $220 | $61 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $9 | $20 | $6 | $44 | $9 | $78 | $33 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $25 | $10 | $2 | $49 | $24 | $30 | $19 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $29 | $8 | $11 | $54 | $81 | $100 | $19 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $29 | $8 | $15 | $20 | $20 | $74 | $35 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $45 | $62 | $22 | $82 | $64 | $195 | $50 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $30 | $41 | $9 | $44 | $69 | $55 | $56 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $59 | $55 | $23 | $142 | $65 | $197 | $66 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $31 | $10 | $15 | $64 | $51 | $109 | $37 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Orange | AIS, DTAC | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | 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% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 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 | Grab | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Liftago | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | 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. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | 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 | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | 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 | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | 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! | Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) | 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 | 90 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 309 options on HappyCow | 112 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow |