Bucharest vs Budapest vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Mexico City

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 8,053,663 15,520,000 144,900 8,850,000
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Vietnamese Turkish Greek Spanish
Level of English High High Moderate Low High Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, October, November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $1167 $659 $1959 $1867
Rent $615 $499 $503 $354 $678 $778
Groceries $114 $108 $151 $44 $157 $281
Dining out $165 $202 $134 $81 $261 $182
Cafe $38 $29 $39 $18 $56 $49
Coworking space $133 $120 $72 $49 $209 $159
Mobile internet $7 $9 $4 $3 $35 $25
Public transportation $21 $36 $20 $6 $63 $11
Taxis $9 $27 $13 $6 $42 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $0 $2 $45 $24
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $3 $11 $28 $81
Museums and sights $29 $7 $4 $15 $8 $20
Nightlife $45 $43 $89 $22 $110 $64
Gym $30 $37 $57 $9 $107 $69
Yoga $59 $48 $57 $23 $105 $65
Massage $31 $26 $21 $15 $54 $51
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN 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 Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab, GoViet BiTaksi nTaxi Uber
Tap water Not drinkable 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. A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 279 listings on Happy Cow