Austin vs Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 2,900,000 1,166,978 8,053,663 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Spanish Thai Vietnamese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High High Low Moderate High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November September - December November - April January, February, October - December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $1321 $974 $1167 $1289
Rent $1650 $499 $844 $274 $503 $567
Groceries $243 $108 $98 $169 $151 $10
Dining out $396 $202 $121 $108 $134 $227
Cafe $66 $29 $25 $45 $39 $27
Coworking space $331 $120 $95 $95 $72 $140
Mobile internet $40 $9 $11 $11 $4 $10
Public transportation $110 $36 $9 $60 $20 $30
Taxis $73 $27 $9 $20 $13 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $14 $10 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $24 $8 $3 $18
Museums and sights $11 $7 $4 $8 $4 $12
Nightlife $124 $43 $23 $62 $89 $82
Gym $62 $37 $14 $41 $57 $23
Yoga $139 $48 $19 $55 $57 $62
Massage $89 $26 $10 $10 $21 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab Grab, GoViet TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable 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. 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. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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 mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. 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 Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads 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 Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow