Bucharest 🇷🇴
|
Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
|
Hanoi 🇻🇳
|
Istanbul 🇹🇷
|
Larnaca 🇨🇾
|
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Population | 1,830,000 | 1,768,073 | 8,053,663 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 |
Official language(s) | Romanian | Hungarian | Vietnamese | Turkish | Greek |
Level of English | High | High | Moderate | Low | High |
Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Ná»™i BÃ i International Airport (HAN) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) |
Most common months to visit | April - October | March - June, September - November | January, February, October - December | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December |
Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1230 | $1167 | $659 | $1959 |
Rent | $615 | $499 | $503 | $354 | $678 |
Groceries | $114 | $108 | $151 | $44 | $157 |
Dining out | $165 | $202 | $134 | $81 | $261 |
Cafe | $38 | $29 | $39 | $18 | $56 |
Coworking space | $133 | $120 | $72 | $49 | $209 |
Mobile internet | $7 | $9 | $4 | $3 | $35 |
Public transportation | $21 | $36 | $20 | $6 | $63 |
Taxis | $9 | $27 | $13 | $6 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $13 | $0 | $2 | $45 |
Sport and cultural events | $29 | $24 | $3 | $11 | $28 |
Museums and sights | $29 | $7 | $4 | $15 | $8 |
Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $89 | $22 | $110 |
Gym | $30 | $37 | $57 | $9 | $107 |
Yoga | $59 | $48 | $57 | $23 | $105 |
Massage | $31 | $26 | $21 | $15 | $54 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Vodafone, Telenor | Viettel, Mobifone | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN |
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 | Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars |
Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Bolt, Fotaxi | Grab, GoViet | BiTaksi | nTaxi |
Tap water | Not drinkable | 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. | A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. |
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 | Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka |
Eat like a local | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants | Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 47 options on HappyCow | 104 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available |