Austin vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 926,426 144,900 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Greek Portuguese Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Very high Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) 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 March - May, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted 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 $1959 $1984 $2498 $1867 $1289
Rent $1650 $678 $965 $1174 $778 $567
Groceries $243 $157 $136 $175 $281 $10
Dining out $396 $261 $271 $313 $182 $227
Cafe $66 $56 $37 $51 $49 $27
Coworking space $331 $209 $164 $196 $159 $140
Mobile internet $40 $35 $24 $10 $25 $10
Public transportation $110 $63 $63 $78 $11 $30
Taxis $73 $42 $27 $44 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $45 $18 $49 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $28 $29 $54 $81 $18
Museums and sights $11 $8 $24 $20 $20 $12
Nightlife $124 $110 $47 $82 $64 $82
Gym $62 $107 $65 $44 $69 $23
Yoga $139 $105 $65 $142 $65 $62
Massage $89 $54 $50 $64 $51 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 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 nTaxi 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. Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. 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 Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka 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 Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. 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 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow