Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Larnaca

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Population 1,768,073 1,166,978 15,520,000 144,900
Official language(s) Hungarian Thai Turkish Greek
Level of English High Low Low High
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November November - April April - June, September and October March - May, October - December
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No
Average monthly costs $1230 $974 $659 $1959
Rent $499 $274 $354 $678
Groceries $108 $169 $44 $157
Dining out $202 $108 $81 $261
Cafe $29 $45 $18 $56
Coworking space $120 $95 $49 $209
Mobile internet $9 $11 $3 $35
Public transportation $36 $60 $6 $63
Taxis $27 $20 $6 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $10 $2 $45
Sport and cultural events $24 $8 $11 $28
Museums and sights $7 $8 $15 $8
Nightlife $43 $62 $22 $110
Gym $37 $41 $9 $107
Yoga $48 $55 $23 $105
Massage $26 $10 $15 $54
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi Grab BiTaksi nTaxi
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well..
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 Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka
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 Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too.
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available