Berlin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Lviv

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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Population 3,400,000 1,830,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 731,387
Official language(s) German Romanian Hungarian Turkish Ukrainian
Level of English Very high High High Low Low
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO)
Most common months to visit May - September April - October March - June, September - November April - June, September and October May - September
Currency EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴)
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
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1351 $1230 $659 $922
Rent $939 $615 $499 $354 $400
Groceries $188 $114 $108 $44 $91
Dining out $271 $165 $202 $81 $151
Cafe $57 $38 $29 $18 $21
Coworking space $174 $133 $120 $49 $79
Mobile internet $23 $7 $9 $3 $4
Public transportation $88 $21 $36 $6 $5
Taxis $58 $9 $27 $6 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $25 $13 $2 $16
Sport and cultural events $64 $29 $24 $11 $13
Museums and sights $37 $29 $7 $15 $9
Nightlife $63 $45 $43 $22 $43
Gym $66 $30 $37 $9 $22
Yoga $99 $59 $48 $23 $30
Massage $56 $31 $26 $15 $27
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar
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
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, Uklon
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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).
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
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
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