Austin vs Budapest vs Lisbon vs Medellin vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 517,000 2,427,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Portuguese Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Very high Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November March - May, September, October January - April, December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $1984 $1293 $1289
Rent $1650 $499 $965 $732 $567
Groceries $243 $108 $136 $87 $10
Dining out $396 $202 $271 $131 $227
Cafe $66 $29 $37 $18 $27
Coworking space $331 $120 $164 $96 $140
Mobile internet $40 $9 $24 $16 $10
Public transportation $110 $36 $63 $21 $30
Taxis $73 $27 $27 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $18 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $29 $8 $18
Museums and sights $11 $7 $24 $9 $12
Nightlife $124 $43 $47 $73 $82
Gym $62 $37 $65 $15 $23
Yoga $139 $48 $65 $54 $62
Massage $89 $26 $50 $20 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Vodafone Claro, Tigo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, FreeNow EasyTaxi TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats 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 Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian 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 401 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow