Bangkok vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Porto vs Sofia

Bangkok 🇹🇭
Remove
Budapest 🇭🇺
Remove
Istanbul 🇹🇷
Remove
Porto 🇵🇹
Remove
Sofia 🇧🇬
Remove
Population 5,680,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 237,559 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai Hungarian Turkish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Low High Low Very High High
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - June, September - November April - June, September and October May - September April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1230 $659 $1759 $1289
Rent $616 $499 $354 $717 $567
Groceries $191 $108 $44 $148 $10
Dining out $168 $202 $81 $280 $227
Cafe $45 $29 $18 $45 $27
Coworking space $127 $120 $49 $96 $140
Mobile internet $23 $9 $3 $21 $10
Public transportation $32 $36 $6 $95 $30
Taxis $19 $27 $6 $25 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $13 $2 $10 $40
Sport and cultural events $46 $24 $11 $45 $18
Museums and sights $21 $7 $15 $24 $12
Nightlife $50 $43 $22 $66 $82
Gym $96 $37 $9 $56 $23
Yoga $98 $48 $23 $82 $62
Massage $11 $26 $15 $48 $29
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, MEO, NOS A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Grab Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable 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 A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. 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 Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa 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 Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars 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 46 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow