Bucharest vs Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Lisbon vs Panama City

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 1,166,978 517,000 880,691
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Thai Portuguese Spanish
Level of English High High Low Very high Low
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November November - April March - May, September, October December - April
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops.
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $974 $1984 $2359
Rent $615 $499 $274 $965 $1036
Groceries $114 $108 $169 $136 $236
Dining out $165 $202 $108 $271 $371
Cafe $38 $29 $45 $37 $43
Coworking space $133 $120 $95 $164 $157
Mobile internet $7 $9 $11 $24 $21
Public transportation $21 $36 $60 $63 $12
Taxis $9 $27 $20 $27 $48
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $10 $18 $0
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $8 $29 $35
Museums and sights $29 $7 $8 $24 $9
Nightlife $45 $43 $62 $47 $117
Gym $30 $37 $41 $65 $37
Yoga $59 $48 $55 $65 $163
Massage $31 $26 $10 $50 $75
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Vodafone Claro, Movistar
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 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Grab Uber, FreeNow Uber, Tu Chofer
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine.
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 Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja
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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow