Bucharest vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Lisbon

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 1,166,978 517,000
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Thai Portuguese
Level of English High High Low Very high
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November November - April March - May, September, October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $974 $1984
Rent $615 $499 $274 $965
Groceries $114 $108 $169 $136
Dining out $165 $202 $108 $271
Cafe $38 $29 $45 $37
Coworking space $133 $120 $95 $164
Mobile internet $7 $9 $11 $24
Public transportation $21 $36 $60 $63
Taxis $9 $27 $20 $27
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $10 $18
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $8 $29
Museums and sights $29 $7 $8 $24
Nightlife $45 $43 $62 $47
Gym $30 $37 $41 $65
Yoga $59 $48 $55 $65
Massage $31 $26 $10 $50
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC 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% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab 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. 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. 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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua 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 Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow