Austin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Madrid

Austin 🇺🇸
Remove
Bucharest 🇷🇴
Remove
Budapest 🇭🇺
Remove
Larnaca 🇨🇾
Remove
Lisbon 🇵🇹
Remove
Madrid 🇪🇸
Remove
Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,768,073 144,900 517,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Hungarian Greek Portuguese Spanish
Level of English Very high High High High Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October March - June, September - November March - May, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1230 $1959 $1984 $2498
Rent $1650 $615 $499 $678 $965 $1174
Groceries $243 $114 $108 $157 $136 $175
Dining out $396 $165 $202 $261 $271 $313
Cafe $66 $38 $29 $56 $37 $51
Coworking space $331 $133 $120 $209 $164 $196
Mobile internet $40 $7 $9 $35 $24 $10
Public transportation $110 $21 $36 $63 $63 $78
Taxis $73 $9 $27 $42 $27 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $13 $45 $18 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $24 $28 $29 $54
Museums and sights $11 $29 $7 $8 $24 $20
Nightlife $124 $45 $43 $110 $47 $82
Gym $62 $30 $37 $107 $65 $44
Yoga $139 $59 $48 $105 $65 $142
Massage $89 $31 $26 $54 $50 $64
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
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% 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.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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.
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 Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros
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 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!
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 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