Bucharest 🇷🇴
|
Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
|
Lisbon 🇵🇹
|
Sofia 🇧🇬
|
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Population | 1,830,000 | 1,768,073 | 517,000 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Romanian | Hungarian | Portuguese | Bulgarian |
Level of English | High | High | Very high | High |
Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | April - October | March - June, September - November | March - May, September, October | April-June, September-October |
Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | EUR - Euro (€) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
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 | No |
Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1230 | $1984 | $1289 |
Rent | $615 | $499 | $965 | $567 |
Groceries | $114 | $108 | $136 | $10 |
Dining out | $165 | $202 | $271 | $227 |
Cafe | $38 | $29 | $37 | $27 |
Coworking space | $133 | $120 | $164 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $7 | $9 | $24 | $10 |
Public transportation | $21 | $36 | $63 | $30 |
Taxis | $9 | $27 | $27 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $13 | $18 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $29 | $24 | $29 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $29 | $7 | $24 | $12 |
Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $47 | $82 |
Gym | $30 | $37 | $65 | $23 |
Yoga | $59 | $48 | $65 | $62 |
Massage | $31 | $26 | $50 | $29 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Vodafone, Telenor | Vodafone | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
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 | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Bolt, Fotaxi | Uber, FreeNow | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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 | Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital. |
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 | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
Eat like a local | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 47 options on HappyCow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |