Bucharest vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Prague vs Seoul

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 6,578,0179 1,305,737 9,963,452
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Turkish Spanish Czech Korean
Level of English High High Low Moderate High Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November June - October March - May, September - November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $659 $2498 $1806 $2184
Rent $615 $499 $354 $1174 $780 $797
Groceries $114 $108 $44 $175 $158 $356
Dining out $165 $202 $81 $313 $240 $211
Cafe $38 $29 $18 $51 $53 $69
Coworking space $133 $120 $49 $196 $175 $222
Mobile internet $7 $9 $3 $10 $24 $40
Public transportation $21 $36 $6 $78 $61 $40
Taxis $9 $27 $6 $44 $33 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $2 $49 $19 $13
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $11 $54 $19 $39
Museums and sights $29 $7 $15 $20 $35 $6
Nightlife $45 $43 $22 $82 $50 $93
Gym $30 $37 $9 $44 $56 $69
Yoga $59 $48 $23 $142 $66 $112
Massage $31 $26 $15 $64 $37 $75
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Vodafone, T-Mobile 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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Liftago Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable 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 fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. 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! 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 57 options on Happy Cow