Austin vs Cape Town vs Playa del Carmen vs Sofia

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 926,426 4,617,560 259,453 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Very high Moderate High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September - November January - May, October - December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1549 $2143 $1289
Rent $1650 $618 $923 $567
Groceries $243 $129 $127 $10
Dining out $396 $269 $207 $227
Cafe $66 $32 $42 $27
Coworking space $331 $151 $160 $140
Mobile internet $40 $27 $21 $10
Public transportation $110 $55 $17 $30
Taxis $73 $21 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $49 $49 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $19 $97 $18
Museums and sights $11 $15 $217 $12
Nightlife $124 $43 $77 $82
Gym $62 $36 $42 $23
Yoga $139 $56 $54 $62
Massage $89 $30 $101 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. MTN, Vodacom Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Bolt N/A TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water 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. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices 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 Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole 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 Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's 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 72 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow