Austin ๐บ๐ธ
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
Population | 926,426 | 6,578,0179 | 259,453 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | 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 ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2498 | $2143 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $1174 | $923 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $175 | $127 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $313 | $207 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $51 | $42 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $196 | $160 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $78 | $17 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $44 | $9 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $49 | $49 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $54 | $97 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $20 | $217 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $82 | $77 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $44 | $42 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $142 | $54 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $64 | $101 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | N/A | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | 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. | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | 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 | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | 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 | 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! | 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 | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |