Bucharest vs Budapest vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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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 1,768,073 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Portuguese Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English High High Very high Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) 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 Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $1984 $2498 $1867 $1289
Rent $615 $499 $965 $1174 $778 $567
Groceries $114 $108 $136 $175 $281 $10
Dining out $165 $202 $271 $313 $182 $227
Cafe $38 $29 $37 $51 $49 $27
Coworking space $133 $120 $164 $196 $159 $140
Mobile internet $7 $9 $24 $10 $25 $10
Public transportation $21 $36 $63 $78 $11 $30
Taxis $9 $27 $27 $44 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $18 $49 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $29 $54 $81 $18
Museums and sights $29 $7 $24 $20 $20 $12
Nightlife $45 $43 $47 $82 $64 $82
Gym $30 $37 $65 $44 $69 $23
Yoga $59 $48 $65 $142 $65 $62
Massage $31 $26 $50 $64 $51 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor 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 10 - 15% at restaurants 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 Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable 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. 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 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 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 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 Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants 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 47 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow