Bucharest vs Budapest vs Istanbul

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 1,830,000 1,768,073 15,520,000
Official language(s) Romanian Hungarian Turkish
Level of English High High Low
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit April - October March - June, September - November April - June, September and October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa No No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1230 $659
Rent $615 $499 $354
Groceries $114 $108 $44
Dining out $165 $202 $81
Cafe $38 $29 $18
Coworking space $133 $120 $49
Mobile internet $7 $9 $3
Public transportation $21 $36 $6
Taxis $9 $27 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $13 $2
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $11
Museums and sights $29 $7 $15
Nightlife $45 $43 $22
Gym $30 $37 $9
Yoga $59 $48 $23
Massage $31 $26 $15
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom
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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi
Tap water 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish
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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow