Bucharest vs Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Madrid

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 2,900,000 15,520,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Spanish Turkish Spanish
Level of English High High High Low Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November September - December April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $1321 $659 $2498
Rent $615 $499 $844 $354 $1174
Groceries $114 $108 $98 $44 $175
Dining out $165 $202 $121 $81 $313
Cafe $38 $29 $25 $18 $51
Coworking space $133 $120 $95 $49 $196
Mobile internet $7 $9 $11 $3 $10
Public transportation $21 $36 $9 $6 $78
Taxis $9 $27 $9 $6 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $14 $2 $49
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $24 $11 $54
Museums and sights $29 $7 $4 $15 $20
Nightlife $45 $43 $23 $22 $82
Gym $30 $37 $14 $9 $44
Yoga $59 $48 $19 $23 $142
Massage $31 $26 $10 $15 $64
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
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 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors.
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 Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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!
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow