Austin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Medellin vs Seoul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,768,073 1,166,978 2,427,000 9,963,452
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Hungarian Thai Spanish Korean
Level of English Very high High High Low Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October March - June, September - November November - April January - April, December March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) COP - Colombian Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1230 $974 $1293 $2184
Rent $1650 $615 $499 $274 $732 $797
Groceries $243 $114 $108 $169 $87 $356
Dining out $396 $165 $202 $108 $131 $211
Cafe $66 $38 $29 $45 $18 $69
Coworking space $331 $133 $120 $95 $96 $222
Mobile internet $40 $7 $9 $11 $16 $40
Public transportation $110 $21 $36 $60 $21 $40
Taxis $73 $9 $27 $20 $14 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $13 $10 $0 $13
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $24 $8 $8 $39
Museums and sights $11 $29 $7 $8 $9 $6
Nightlife $124 $45 $43 $62 $73 $93
Gym $62 $30 $37 $41 $15 $69
Yoga $139 $59 $48 $55 $54 $112
Massage $89 $31 $26 $10 $20 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Claro, Tigo KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 10% in restaurants Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab EasyTaxi Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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. 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. A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 153 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow