Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Prague vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,830,000 1,166,978 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Thai Portuguese Spanish Spanish Czech Bulgarian
Level of English High Low Very high Moderate Moderate High High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October November - April March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November June - October April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $974 $1984 $2498 $1867 $1806 $1289
Rent $615 $274 $965 $1174 $778 $780 $567
Groceries $114 $169 $136 $175 $281 $158 $10
Dining out $165 $108 $271 $313 $182 $240 $227
Cafe $38 $45 $37 $51 $49 $53 $27
Coworking space $133 $95 $164 $196 $159 $175 $140
Mobile internet $7 $11 $24 $10 $25 $24 $10
Public transportation $21 $60 $63 $78 $11 $61 $30
Taxis $9 $20 $27 $44 $9 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $10 $18 $49 $24 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $8 $29 $54 $81 $19 $18
Museums and sights $29 $8 $24 $20 $20 $35 $12
Nightlife $45 $62 $47 $82 $64 $50 $82
Gym $30 $41 $65 $44 $69 $56 $23
Yoga $59 $55 $65 $142 $65 $66 $62
Massage $31 $10 $50 $64 $51 $37 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, T-Mobile A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 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% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Grab Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not 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. 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. 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 Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! 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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua 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 Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food 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) Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow