Bucharest vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Lisbon

Bucharest 🇷🇴
Remove
Budapest 🇭🇺
Remove
Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
Remove
Hanoi 🇻🇳
Remove
Istanbul 🇹🇷
Remove
Lisbon 🇵🇹
Remove
Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 1,166,978 8,053,663 15,520,000 517,000
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Thai Vietnamese Turkish Portuguese
Level of English High High Low Moderate Low Very high
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November November - April January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, September, October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $974 $1167 $659 $1984
Rent $615 $499 $274 $503 $354 $965
Groceries $114 $108 $169 $151 $44 $136
Dining out $165 $202 $108 $134 $81 $271
Cafe $38 $29 $45 $39 $18 $37
Coworking space $133 $120 $95 $72 $49 $164
Mobile internet $7 $9 $11 $4 $3 $24
Public transportation $21 $36 $60 $20 $6 $63
Taxis $9 $27 $20 $13 $6 $27
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $10 $0 $2 $18
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $8 $3 $11 $29
Museums and sights $29 $7 $8 $4 $15 $24
Nightlife $45 $43 $62 $89 $22 $47
Gym $30 $37 $41 $57 $9 $65
Yoga $59 $48 $55 $57 $23 $65
Massage $31 $26 $10 $21 $15 $50
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone
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 Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. 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. 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 Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries
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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana
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 Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow