Austin vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Lviv vs Medellin vs Sofia

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Lviv ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Medellin ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 926,426 4,617,560 1,166,978 731,387 2,427,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Ukrainian Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Very high Low Low Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) Josรฉ Marรญa Cรณrdova International Airport (MDE) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September - November November - April May - September January - April, December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (โ‚ด) COP - Colombian Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1549 $974 $922 $1293 $1289
Rent $1650 $618 $274 $400 $732 $567
Groceries $243 $129 $169 $91 $87 $10
Dining out $396 $269 $108 $151 $131 $227
Cafe $66 $32 $45 $21 $18 $27
Coworking space $331 $151 $95 $79 $96 $140
Mobile internet $40 $27 $11 $4 $16 $10
Public transportation $110 $55 $60 $5 $21 $30
Taxis $73 $21 $20 $12 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $49 $10 $16 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $19 $8 $13 $8 $18
Museums and sights $11 $15 $8 $9 $9 $12
Nightlife $124 $43 $62 $43 $73 $82
Gym $62 $36 $41 $22 $15 $23
Yoga $139 $56 $55 $30 $54 $62
Massage $89 $30 $10 $27 $20 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Vodafone, Kyivstar Claro, Tigo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere Tip 10% in restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Bolt Grab Uber, Uklon EasyTaxi TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. 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. 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). 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 Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky 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 Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries 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 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 9 options on HappyCow 153 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow