Austin ๐บ๐ธ
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Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
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Lisbon ๐ต๐น
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Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 926,426 | 1,830,000 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Romanian | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | High | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - October | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | April-June, September-October |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1351 | $1984 | $2498 | $1867 | $1289 |
Rent | $1650 | $615 | $965 | $1174 | $778 | $567 |
Groceries | $243 | $114 | $136 | $175 | $281 | $10 |
Dining out | $396 | $165 | $271 | $313 | $182 | $227 |
Cafe | $66 | $38 | $37 | $51 | $49 | $27 |
Coworking space | $331 | $133 | $164 | $196 | $159 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $7 | $24 | $10 | $25 | $10 |
Public transportation | $110 | $21 | $63 | $78 | $11 | $30 |
Taxis | $73 | $9 | $27 | $44 | $9 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $25 | $18 | $49 | $24 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $29 | $29 | $54 | $81 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $29 | $24 | $20 | $20 | $12 |
Nightlife | $124 | $45 | $47 | $82 | $64 | $82 |
Gym | $62 | $30 | $65 | $44 | $69 | $23 |
Yoga | $139 | $59 | $65 | $142 | $65 | $62 |
Massage | $89 | $31 | $50 | $64 | $51 | $29 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Orange | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
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 | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | 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 | Sarmale, mฤmฤligฤ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤ de burtฤ, covrig, papanasi | Bacalhau ร bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | 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 | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | 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! | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |