Bucharest vs Budapest vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Porto

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 4,617,560 517,000 6,578,0179 237,559
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish Portuguese
Level of English High High Very high Very high Moderate Very High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November May - September
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $1549 $1984 $2498 $1759
Rent $615 $499 $618 $965 $1174 $717
Groceries $114 $108 $129 $136 $175 $148
Dining out $165 $202 $269 $271 $313 $280
Cafe $38 $29 $32 $37 $51 $45
Coworking space $133 $120 $151 $164 $196 $96
Mobile internet $7 $9 $27 $24 $10 $21
Public transportation $21 $36 $55 $63 $78 $95
Taxis $9 $27 $21 $27 $44 $25
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $49 $18 $49 $10
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $19 $29 $54 $45
Museums and sights $29 $7 $15 $24 $20 $24
Nightlife $45 $43 $43 $47 $82 $66
Gym $30 $37 $36 $65 $44 $56
Yoga $59 $48 $56 $65 $142 $82
Massage $31 $26 $30 $50 $64 $48
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Vodafone, MEO, NOS
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 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts.
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 Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa
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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow