Austin vs Barcelona vs Chiang Mai vs Sofia

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 926,426 5,585,556 1,166,978 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Catalan, Spanish Thai Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November November - April April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2384 $974 $1289
Rent $1650 $932 $274 $567
Groceries $243 $121 $169 $10
Dining out $396 $403 $108 $227
Cafe $66 $45 $45 $27
Coworking space $331 $213 $95 $140
Mobile internet $40 $10 $11 $10
Public transportation $110 $127 $60 $30
Taxis $73 $48 $20 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $24 $10 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $8 $18
Museums and sights $11 $33 $8 $12
Nightlife $124 $112 $62 $82
Gym $62 $81 $41 $23
Yoga $139 $93 $55 $62
Massage $89 $59 $10 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Movistar AIS, DTAC 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, not customary or expected elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Cabify, FreeNow Grab 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. 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. 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. 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 tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua 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 Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food 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 90 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow