Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Mexico City

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 1,768,073 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000
Official language(s) Hungarian Thai Turkish Spanish Spanish
Level of English High Low Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1230 $974 $659 $2498 $1867
Rent $499 $274 $354 $1174 $778
Groceries $108 $169 $44 $175 $281
Dining out $202 $108 $81 $313 $182
Cafe $29 $45 $18 $51 $49
Coworking space $120 $95 $49 $196 $159
Mobile internet $9 $11 $3 $10 $25
Public transportation $36 $60 $6 $78 $11
Taxis $27 $20 $6 $44 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $10 $2 $49 $24
Sport and cultural events $24 $8 $11 $54 $81
Museums and sights $7 $8 $15 $20 $20
Nightlife $43 $62 $22 $82 $64
Gym $37 $41 $9 $44 $69
Yoga $48 $55 $23 $142 $65
Massage $26 $10 $15 $64 $51
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber
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. 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 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. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food 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! Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow