Austin vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Sofia vs Valencia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 1,166,978 15,520,000 1,270,169 834,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Thai Turkish Bulgarian Spanish, Valencian
Level of English Very high High Low Low High Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Valencia Manises Airport (VLC)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November November - April April - June, September and October April-June, September-October March - June, September, October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $974 $659 $1289 $1976
Rent $1650 $499 $274 $354 $567 $869
Groceries $243 $108 $169 $44 $10 $146
Dining out $396 $202 $108 $81 $227 $292
Cafe $66 $29 $45 $18 $27 $42
Coworking space $331 $120 $95 $49 $140 $152
Mobile internet $40 $9 $11 $3 $10 $16
Public transportation $110 $36 $60 $6 $30 $38
Taxis $73 $27 $20 $6 $12 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $10 $2 $40 $30
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $8 $11 $18 $73
Museums and sights $11 $7 $8 $15 $12 $44
Nightlife $124 $43 $62 $22 $82 $66
Gym $62 $37 $41 $9 $23 $34
Yoga $139 $48 $55 $23 $62 $87
Massage $89 $26 $10 $15 $29 $45
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom A1, Telenor, Vivacom Vodafone, Orange
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi Grab BiTaksi TaxiMe, TaxiStars Cabify, FreeNow
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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 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. Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats
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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Paella, fideuà, esgarrat, orxata, bunyols
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants 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 Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 98 listings on Happy Cow