Austin vs Berlin vs Budapest vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 1,768,073 8,850,000 259,453 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Hungarian Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Very high High Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September March - June, September - November March - May, October, November January - May, October - December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1230 $1867 $2143 $1289
Rent $1650 $939 $499 $778 $923 $567
Groceries $243 $188 $108 $281 $127 $10
Dining out $396 $271 $202 $182 $207 $227
Cafe $66 $57 $29 $49 $42 $27
Coworking space $331 $174 $120 $159 $160 $140
Mobile internet $40 $23 $9 $25 $21 $10
Public transportation $110 $88 $36 $11 $17 $30
Taxis $73 $58 $27 $9 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $13 $24 $49 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $24 $81 $97 $18
Museums and sights $11 $37 $7 $20 $217 $12
Nightlife $124 $63 $43 $64 $77 $82
Gym $62 $66 $37 $69 $42 $23
Yoga $139 $99 $48 $65 $54 $62
Massage $89 $56 $26 $51 $101 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Telenor Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber N/A TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable 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. Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas 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 Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) 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 844 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow