Bucharest vs Budapest vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Seoul

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 8,053,663 15,520,000 9,963,452
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Vietnamese Turkish Korean
Level of English High High Moderate Low Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
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
Remote worker visa No No No No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $1167 $659 $2184
Rent $615 $499 $503 $354 $797
Groceries $114 $108 $151 $44 $356
Dining out $165 $202 $134 $81 $211
Cafe $38 $29 $39 $18 $69
Coworking space $133 $120 $72 $49 $222
Mobile internet $7 $9 $4 $3 $40
Public transportation $21 $36 $20 $6 $40
Taxis $9 $27 $13 $6 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $0 $2 $13
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $3 $11 $39
Museums and sights $29 $7 $4 $15 $6
Nightlife $45 $43 $89 $22 $93
Gym $30 $37 $57 $9 $69
Yoga $59 $48 $57 $23 $112
Massage $31 $26 $21 $15 $75
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
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 Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable 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. 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 Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
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 Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
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 Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow