Bucharest vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,830,000 8,053,663 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Vietnamese Turkish Portuguese Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English High Moderate Low Very high Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1167 $659 $1984 $2498 $1867 $1289
Rent $615 $503 $354 $965 $1174 $778 $567
Groceries $114 $151 $44 $136 $175 $281 $10
Dining out $165 $134 $81 $271 $313 $182 $227
Cafe $38 $39 $18 $37 $51 $49 $27
Coworking space $133 $72 $49 $164 $196 $159 $140
Mobile internet $7 $4 $3 $24 $10 $25 $10
Public transportation $21 $20 $6 $63 $78 $11 $30
Taxis $9 $13 $6 $27 $44 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $0 $2 $18 $49 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $3 $11 $29 $54 $81 $18
Museums and sights $29 $4 $15 $24 $20 $20 $12
Nightlife $45 $89 $22 $47 $82 $64 $82
Gym $30 $57 $9 $65 $44 $69 $23
Yoga $59 $57 $23 $65 $142 $65 $62
Massage $31 $21 $15 $50 $64 $51 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish 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. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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! Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow