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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Porto 🇵🇹
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| Population | 1,830,000 | 1,768,073 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 237,559 |
| Official language(s) | Romanian | Hungarian | Turkish | Greek | Portuguese |
| Level of English | High | High | Low | High | Very High |
| Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) |
| Most common months to visit | April - October | March - June, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | May - September |
| Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1230 | $659 | $1959 | $1759 |
| Rent | $615 | $499 | $354 | $678 | $717 |
| Groceries | $114 | $108 | $44 | $157 | $148 |
| Dining out | $165 | $202 | $81 | $261 | $280 |
| Cafe | $38 | $29 | $18 | $56 | $45 |
| Coworking space | $133 | $120 | $49 | $209 | $96 |
| Mobile internet | $7 | $9 | $3 | $35 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $21 | $36 | $6 | $63 | $95 |
| Taxis | $9 | $27 | $6 | $42 | $25 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $13 | $2 | $45 | $10 |
| Sport and cultural events | $29 | $24 | $11 | $28 | $45 |
| Museums and sights | $29 | $7 | $15 | $8 | $24 |
| Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $22 | $110 | $66 |
| Gym | $30 | $37 | $9 | $107 | $56 |
| Yoga | $59 | $48 | $23 | $105 | $82 |
| Massage | $31 | $26 | $15 | $54 | $48 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Vodafone, Telenor | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone, MEO, NOS |
| 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 | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars |
| Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Bolt, Fotaxi | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. |
| 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 | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa |
| Eat like a local | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 47 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 46 options on Happy Cow |