Berlin vs Budapest vs New York City vs Sofia

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 1,768,073 8,323,340 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Hungarian English (de facto) Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Very high High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September March - June, September - November April - June, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) USD - US Dollar ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1230 $5431 $1289
Rent $939 $499 $2891 $567
Groceries $188 $108 $383 $10
Dining out $271 $202 $656 $227
Cafe $57 $29 $72 $27
Coworking space $174 $120 $326 $140
Mobile internet $23 $9 $45 $10
Public transportation $88 $36 $220 $30
Taxis $58 $27 $78 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $13 $30 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $24 $100 $18
Museums and sights $37 $7 $74 $12
Nightlife $63 $43 $195 $82
Gym $66 $37 $55 $23
Yoga $99 $48 $197 $62
Massage $56 $26 $109 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Telenor AT&T, Verizon A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Lyft TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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. 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. 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 Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 309 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow