Bucharest vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs New York City vs Seoul

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 8,850,000 8,323,340 9,963,452
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Turkish Spanish English (de facto) Korean
Level of English High High Low Moderate Very high Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November April - June, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $659 $1867 $5431 $2184
Rent $615 $499 $354 $778 $2891 $797
Groceries $114 $108 $44 $281 $383 $356
Dining out $165 $202 $81 $182 $656 $211
Cafe $38 $29 $18 $49 $72 $69
Coworking space $133 $120 $49 $159 $326 $222
Mobile internet $7 $9 $3 $25 $45 $40
Public transportation $21 $36 $6 $11 $220 $40
Taxis $9 $27 $6 $9 $78 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $2 $24 $30 $13
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $11 $81 $100 $39
Museums and sights $29 $7 $15 $20 $74 $6
Nightlife $45 $43 $22 $64 $195 $93
Gym $30 $37 $9 $69 $55 $69
Yoga $59 $48 $23 $65 $197 $112
Massage $31 $26 $15 $51 $109 $75
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar AT&T, Verizon 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 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber Uber, Lyft Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. 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 Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants 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 279 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 57 options on Happy Cow