Austin vs Barcelona vs Buenos Aires vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Lviv vs Seoul vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 2,900,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 731,387 9,963,452 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Spanish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Korean Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High High Low Low Low Moderate High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November September - December November - April April - June, September and October May - September March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) KRW - South Korean won (₩) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $1321 $974 $659 $922 $2184 $1289
Rent $1650 $932 $844 $274 $354 $400 $797 $567
Groceries $243 $121 $98 $169 $44 $91 $356 $10
Dining out $396 $403 $121 $108 $81 $151 $211 $227
Cafe $66 $45 $25 $45 $18 $21 $69 $27
Coworking space $331 $213 $95 $95 $49 $79 $222 $140
Mobile internet $40 $10 $11 $11 $3 $4 $40 $10
Public transportation $110 $127 $9 $60 $6 $5 $40 $30
Taxis $73 $48 $9 $20 $6 $12 $41 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $14 $10 $2 $16 $13 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $24 $8 $11 $13 $39 $18
Museums and sights $11 $33 $4 $8 $15 $9 $6 $12
Nightlife $124 $112 $23 $62 $22 $43 $93 $82
Gym $62 $81 $14 $41 $9 $22 $69 $23
Yoga $139 $93 $19 $55 $23 $30 $112 $62
Massage $89 $59 $10 $10 $15 $27 $75 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar Movistar, Claro, Personal AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere Not customary or expected 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab BiTaksi Uber, Uklon Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. 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 fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. 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 Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam 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 Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 98 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 9 options on HappyCow 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow