Bucharest vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Playa del Carmen

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 1,166,978 259,453
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Thai Spanish
Level of English High High Low Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November November - April January - May, October - December
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $974 $2143
Rent $615 $499 $274 $923
Groceries $114 $108 $169 $127
Dining out $165 $202 $108 $207
Cafe $38 $29 $45 $42
Coworking space $133 $120 $95 $160
Mobile internet $7 $9 $11 $21
Public transportation $21 $36 $60 $17
Taxis $9 $27 $20 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $10 $49
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $8 $97
Museums and sights $29 $7 $8 $217
Nightlife $45 $43 $62 $77
Gym $30 $37 $41 $42
Yoga $59 $48 $55 $54
Massage $31 $26 $10 $101
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Telcel, Movistar
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% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab N/A
Tap water Not drinkable 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. Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow