Bucharest vs Budapest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Playa del Carmen vs Tbilisi

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 4,617,560 15,520,000 2,427,000 259,453 1,108,700
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Spanish Georgian
Level of English High High Very high Low Low Moderate Low
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December January - May, October - December March - June
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) GEL - Georgian Lari (₾)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $1549 $659 $1293 $2143 $1462
Rent $615 $499 $618 $354 $732 $923 $752
Groceries $114 $108 $129 $44 $87 $127 $112
Dining out $165 $202 $269 $81 $131 $207 $169
Cafe $38 $29 $32 $18 $18 $42 $45
Coworking space $133 $120 $151 $49 $96 $160 $125
Mobile internet $7 $9 $27 $3 $16 $21 $4
Public transportation $21 $36 $55 $6 $21 $17 $8
Taxis $9 $27 $21 $6 $14 $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $49 $2 $0 $49 $27
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $19 $11 $8 $97 $21
Museums and sights $29 $7 $15 $15 $9 $217 $9
Nightlife $45 $43 $43 $22 $73 $77 $53
Gym $30 $37 $36 $9 $15 $42 $33
Yoga $59 $48 $56 $23 $54 $54 $37
Massage $31 $26 $30 $15 $20 $101 $53
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline
Tipping 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés.
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt BiTaksi EasyTaxi N/A Yandex, Bolt
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine 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. South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams.
Local food specialities 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 Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 10 options on Happy Cow