Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Istanbul

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 1,768,073 2,900,000 4,617,560 1,166,978 8,053,663 15,520,000
Official language(s) Hungarian Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Vietnamese Turkish
Level of English High High Very high Low Moderate Low
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November September - December March - May, September - November November - April January, February, October - December April - June, September and October
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (฿) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $1230 $1321 $1549 $974 $1167 $659
Rent $499 $844 $618 $274 $503 $354
Groceries $108 $98 $129 $169 $151 $44
Dining out $202 $121 $269 $108 $134 $81
Cafe $29 $25 $32 $45 $39 $18
Coworking space $120 $95 $151 $95 $72 $49
Mobile internet $9 $11 $27 $11 $4 $3
Public transportation $36 $9 $55 $60 $20 $6
Taxis $27 $9 $21 $20 $13 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $14 $49 $10 $0 $2
Sport and cultural events $24 $24 $19 $8 $3 $11
Museums and sights $7 $4 $15 $8 $4 $15
Nightlife $43 $23 $43 $62 $89 $22
Gym $37 $14 $36 $41 $57 $9
Yoga $48 $19 $56 $55 $57 $23
Massage $26 $10 $30 $10 $21 $15
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt Grab Grab, GoViet BiTaksi
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall 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. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. 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 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
Local food specialities Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight
Eat like a local Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow