Bucharest vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Porto vs Sofia vs Tbilisi

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 1,166,978 237,559 1,270,169 1,108,700
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Thai Portuguese Bulgarian Georgian
Level of English High High Low Very High High Low
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November November - April May - September April-June, September-October March - June
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) GEL - Georgian Lari (₾)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $974 $1759 $1289 $1462
Rent $615 $499 $274 $717 $567 $752
Groceries $114 $108 $169 $148 $10 $112
Dining out $165 $202 $108 $280 $227 $169
Cafe $38 $29 $45 $45 $27 $45
Coworking space $133 $120 $95 $96 $140 $125
Mobile internet $7 $9 $11 $21 $10 $4
Public transportation $21 $36 $60 $95 $30 $8
Taxis $9 $27 $20 $25 $12 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $10 $10 $40 $27
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $8 $45 $18 $21
Museums and sights $29 $7 $8 $24 $12 $9
Nightlife $45 $43 $62 $66 $82 $53
Gym $30 $37 $41 $56 $23 $33
Yoga $59 $48 $55 $82 $62 $37
Massage $31 $26 $10 $48 $29 $53
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Vodafone, MEO, NOS A1, Telenor, Vivacom Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline
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% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés.
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars Yandex, Bolt
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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. 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. A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. 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. Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams.
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, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli
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 Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 46 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 10 options on Happy Cow