Austin vs Bangkok vs Budapest vs Hanoi vs Larnaca vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 1,768,073 8,053,663 144,900 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Hungarian Vietnamese Greek Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low High Moderate High High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December March - June, September - November January, February, October - December March - May, October - December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1230 $1167 $1959 $1289
Rent $1650 $616 $499 $503 $678 $567
Groceries $243 $191 $108 $151 $157 $10
Dining out $396 $168 $202 $134 $261 $227
Cafe $66 $45 $29 $39 $56 $27
Coworking space $331 $127 $120 $72 $209 $140
Mobile internet $40 $23 $9 $4 $35 $10
Public transportation $110 $32 $36 $20 $63 $30
Taxis $73 $19 $27 $13 $42 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $13 $0 $45 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $24 $3 $28 $18
Museums and sights $11 $21 $7 $4 $8 $12
Nightlife $124 $50 $43 $89 $110 $82
Gym $62 $96 $37 $57 $107 $23
Yoga $139 $98 $48 $57 $105 $62
Massage $89 $11 $26 $21 $54 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Vodafone, Telenor Viettel, Mobifone Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Bolt, Fotaxi Grab, GoViet nTaxi TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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. Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup 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. 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. Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. 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 Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka 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 Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 20 options on HappyCow