Bangkok vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Playa del Carmen vs Sofia

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 5,680,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 259,453 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai Hungarian Turkish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low High Low Moderate High
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - June, September - November April - June, September and October January - May, October - December April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1230 $659 $2143 $1289
Rent $616 $499 $354 $923 $567
Groceries $191 $108 $44 $127 $10
Dining out $168 $202 $81 $207 $227
Cafe $45 $29 $18 $42 $27
Coworking space $127 $120 $49 $160 $140
Mobile internet $23 $9 $3 $21 $10
Public transportation $32 $36 $6 $17 $30
Taxis $19 $27 $6 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $13 $2 $49 $40
Sport and cultural events $46 $24 $11 $97 $18
Museums and sights $21 $7 $15 $217 $12
Nightlife $50 $43 $22 $77 $82
Gym $96 $37 $9 $42 $23
Yoga $98 $48 $23 $54 $62
Massage $11 $26 $15 $101 $29
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Grab Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi N/A TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish 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 Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight 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 Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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 416 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow