|
Austin 🇺🇸
|
Bucharest 🇷🇴
|
Prague 🇨🇿
|
Sofia 🇧🇬
|
|
| Population | 926,426 | 1,830,000 | 1,305,737 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Romanian | Czech | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Very high | High | High | High |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - October | June - October | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted most places (some places are cash only) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1351 | $1806 | $1289 |
| Rent | $1650 | $615 | $780 | $567 |
| Groceries | $243 | $114 | $158 | $10 |
| Dining out | $396 | $165 | $240 | $227 |
| Cafe | $66 | $38 | $53 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $133 | $175 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $7 | $24 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $21 | $61 | $30 |
| Taxis | $73 | $9 | $33 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $25 | $19 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $29 | $19 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $29 | $35 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $45 | $50 | $82 |
| Gym | $62 | $30 | $56 | $23 |
| Yoga | $139 | $59 | $66 | $62 |
| Massage | $89 | $31 | $37 | $29 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Orange | 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 and bars, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Liftago | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | 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. | 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 | 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 | 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 | 112 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow |