Austin vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Porto vs Prague vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
Remove
Lisbon 🇵🇹
Remove
Madrid 🇪🇸
Remove
Mexico City 🇲🇽
Remove
Porto 🇵🇹
Remove
Prague 🇨🇿
Remove
Sofia 🇧🇬
Remove
Population 926,426 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 237,559 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Portuguese Spanish Spanish Portuguese Czech Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Very high Moderate Moderate Very High High High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November May - September June - October April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1984 $2498 $1867 $1759 $1806 $1289
Rent $1650 $965 $1174 $778 $717 $780 $567
Groceries $243 $136 $175 $281 $148 $158 $10
Dining out $396 $271 $313 $182 $280 $240 $227
Cafe $66 $37 $51 $49 $45 $53 $27
Coworking space $331 $164 $196 $159 $96 $175 $140
Mobile internet $40 $24 $10 $25 $21 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $63 $78 $11 $95 $61 $30
Taxis $73 $27 $44 $9 $25 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $18 $49 $24 $10 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $54 $81 $45 $19 $18
Museums and sights $11 $24 $20 $20 $24 $35 $12
Nightlife $124 $47 $82 $64 $66 $50 $82
Gym $62 $65 $44 $69 $56 $56 $23
Yoga $139 $65 $142 $65 $82 $66 $62
Massage $89 $50 $64 $51 $48 $37 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS Vodafone, T-Mobile A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! 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 Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow