Bucharest vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Rio de Janeiro

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 1,166,978 15,520,000 2,427,000 6,718,903
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Thai Turkish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English High High Low Low Low Low
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November November - April April - June, September and October January - April, December January - March, December
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $974 $659 $1293 $1833
Rent $615 $499 $274 $354 $732 $1066
Groceries $114 $108 $169 $44 $87 $95
Dining out $165 $202 $108 $81 $131 $210
Cafe $38 $29 $45 $18 $18 $25
Coworking space $133 $120 $95 $49 $96 $130
Mobile internet $7 $9 $11 $3 $16 $7
Public transportation $21 $36 $60 $6 $21 $33
Taxis $9 $27 $20 $6 $14 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $10 $2 $0 $16
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $8 $11 $8 $55
Museums and sights $29 $7 $8 $15 $9 $26
Nightlife $45 $43 $62 $22 $73 $54
Gym $30 $37 $41 $9 $15 $31
Yoga $59 $48 $55 $23 $54 $40
Massage $31 $26 $10 $15 $20 $32
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo Tim, Claro, Vivo
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, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab BiTaksi EasyTaxi Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. 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 A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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 Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow