Bucharest vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Prague

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 1,166,978 15,520,000 144,900 1,305,737
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Thai Turkish Greek Czech
Level of English High High Low Low High High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November November - April April - June, September and October March - May, October - December June - October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted most places (some places are cash only)
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $974 $659 $1959 $1806
Rent $615 $499 $274 $354 $678 $780
Groceries $114 $108 $169 $44 $157 $158
Dining out $165 $202 $108 $81 $261 $240
Cafe $38 $29 $45 $18 $56 $53
Coworking space $133 $120 $95 $49 $209 $175
Mobile internet $7 $9 $11 $3 $35 $24
Public transportation $21 $36 $60 $6 $63 $61
Taxis $9 $27 $20 $6 $42 $33
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $10 $2 $45 $19
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $8 $11 $28 $19
Museums and sights $29 $7 $8 $15 $8 $35
Nightlife $45 $43 $62 $22 $110 $50
Gym $30 $37 $41 $9 $107 $56
Yoga $59 $48 $55 $23 $105 $66
Massage $31 $26 $10 $15 $54 $37
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone, T-Mobile
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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, Liftago
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 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.. Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer!
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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky.
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 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. Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 112 options on HappyCow