Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Chiang Mai vs Lisbon vs Sofia

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,768,073 2,900,000 1,166,978 517,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Hungarian Spanish Thai Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English High High Low Very high High
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November September - December November - April March - May, September, October April-June, September-October
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1230 $1321 $974 $1984 $1289
Rent $499 $844 $274 $965 $567
Groceries $108 $98 $169 $136 $10
Dining out $202 $121 $108 $271 $227
Cafe $29 $25 $45 $37 $27
Coworking space $120 $95 $95 $164 $140
Mobile internet $9 $11 $11 $24 $10
Public transportation $36 $9 $60 $63 $30
Taxis $27 $9 $20 $27 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $14 $10 $18 $40
Sport and cultural events $24 $24 $8 $29 $18
Museums and sights $7 $4 $8 $24 $12
Nightlife $43 $23 $62 $47 $82
Gym $37 $14 $41 $65 $23
Yoga $48 $19 $55 $65 $62
Massage $26 $10 $10 $50 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal AIS, DTAC Vodafone A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab Uber, FreeNow TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 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 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 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 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 Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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 Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow