Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Seoul

Budapest 🇭🇺
Remove
Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
Remove
Istanbul 🇹🇷
Remove
Madrid 🇪🇸
Remove
Seoul 🇰🇷
Remove
Population 1,768,073 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 9,963,452
Official language(s) Hungarian Thai Turkish Spanish Korean
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) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1230 $974 $659 $2498 $2184
Rent $499 $274 $354 $1174 $797
Groceries $108 $169 $44 $175 $356
Dining out $202 $108 $81 $313 $211
Cafe $29 $45 $18 $51 $69
Coworking space $120 $95 $49 $196 $222
Mobile internet $9 $11 $3 $10 $40
Public transportation $36 $60 $6 $78 $40
Taxis $27 $20 $6 $44 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $10 $2 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $24 $8 $11 $54 $39
Museums and sights $7 $8 $15 $20 $6
Nightlife $43 $62 $22 $82 $93
Gym $37 $41 $9 $44 $69
Yoga $48 $55 $23 $142 $112
Massage $26 $10 $15 $64 $75
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
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. Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable 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. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
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 Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
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! Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow