Bucharest vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 1,166,978 8,053,663 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Thai Vietnamese Bulgarian
Level of English High High Low Moderate High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November November - April January, February, October - December April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
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 everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $974 $1167 $1289
Rent $615 $499 $274 $503 $567
Groceries $114 $108 $169 $151 $10
Dining out $165 $202 $108 $134 $227
Cafe $38 $29 $45 $39 $27
Coworking space $133 $120 $95 $72 $140
Mobile internet $7 $9 $11 $4 $10
Public transportation $21 $36 $60 $20 $30
Taxis $9 $27 $20 $13 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $10 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $8 $3 $18
Museums and sights $29 $7 $8 $4 $12
Nightlife $45 $43 $62 $89 $82
Gym $30 $37 $41 $57 $23
Yoga $59 $48 $55 $57 $62
Massage $31 $26 $10 $21 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone A1, Telenor, Vivacom
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%. 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab Grab, GoViet TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable 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. 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. Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
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 Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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 Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow