Bucharest vs Budapest vs Lisbon vs Madrid

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 517,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Portuguese Spanish
Level of English High High Very high Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $1984 $2498
Rent $615 $499 $965 $1174
Groceries $114 $108 $136 $175
Dining out $165 $202 $271 $313
Cafe $38 $29 $37 $51
Coworking space $133 $120 $164 $196
Mobile internet $7 $9 $24 $10
Public transportation $21 $36 $63 $78
Taxis $9 $27 $27 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $18 $49
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $29 $54
Museums and sights $29 $7 $24 $20
Nightlife $45 $43 $47 $82
Gym $30 $37 $65 $44
Yoga $59 $48 $65 $142
Massage $31 $26 $50 $64
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Vodafone Orange, Movistar, 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 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors.
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 Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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!
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow