Bucharest vs Budapest vs Cape Town vs Lisbon

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 4,617,560 517,000
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese
Level of English High High Very high Very high
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November March - May, September - November March - May, September, October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $1549 $1984
Rent $615 $499 $618 $965
Groceries $114 $108 $129 $136
Dining out $165 $202 $269 $271
Cafe $38 $29 $32 $37
Coworking space $133 $120 $151 $164
Mobile internet $7 $9 $27 $24
Public transportation $21 $36 $55 $63
Taxis $9 $27 $21 $27
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $49 $18
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $19 $29
Museums and sights $29 $7 $15 $24
Nightlife $45 $43 $43 $47
Gym $30 $37 $36 $65
Yoga $59 $48 $56 $65
Massage $31 $26 $30 $50
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom Vodafone
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 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow
Tap water Not drinkable 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. South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries
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 Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow