Berlin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Lviv vs New York City

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Population 3,400,000 1,830,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 731,387 8,323,340
Official language(s) German Romanian Hungarian Turkish Ukrainian English (de facto)
Level of English Very high High High Low Low Very high
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit May - September April - October March - June, September - November April - June, September and October May - September April - June, September - November
Currency EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1351 $1230 $659 $922 $5431
Rent $939 $615 $499 $354 $400 $2891
Groceries $188 $114 $108 $44 $91 $383
Dining out $271 $165 $202 $81 $151 $656
Cafe $57 $38 $29 $18 $21 $72
Coworking space $174 $133 $120 $49 $79 $326
Mobile internet $23 $7 $9 $3 $4 $45
Public transportation $88 $21 $36 $6 $5 $220
Taxis $58 $9 $27 $6 $12 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $25 $13 $2 $16 $30
Sport and cultural events $64 $29 $24 $11 $13 $100
Museums and sights $37 $29 $7 $15 $9 $74
Nightlife $63 $45 $43 $22 $43 $195
Gym $66 $30 $37 $9 $22 $55
Yoga $99 $59 $48 $23 $30 $197
Massage $56 $31 $26 $15 $27 $109
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar AT&T, Verizon
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, Uklon Uber, Lyft
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
Local food specialities Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 9 options on HappyCow 309 options on HappyCow