Budapest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Prague vs Sofia

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,768,073 4,617,560 15,520,000 144,900 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) Hungarian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Greek Czech Bulgarian
Level of English High Very high Low High High High
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October - December June - October April-June, September-October
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1230 $1549 $659 $1959 $1806 $1289
Rent $499 $618 $354 $678 $780 $567
Groceries $108 $129 $44 $157 $158 $10
Dining out $202 $269 $81 $261 $240 $227
Cafe $29 $32 $18 $56 $53 $27
Coworking space $120 $151 $49 $209 $175 $140
Mobile internet $9 $27 $3 $35 $24 $10
Public transportation $36 $55 $6 $63 $61 $30
Taxis $27 $21 $6 $42 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $49 $2 $45 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $24 $19 $11 $28 $19 $18
Museums and sights $7 $15 $15 $8 $35 $12
Nightlife $43 $43 $22 $110 $50 $82
Gym $37 $36 $9 $107 $56 $23
Yoga $48 $56 $23 $105 $66 $62
Massage $26 $30 $15 $54 $37 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone, T-Mobile A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Bolt BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. 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.. Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
Local food specialities Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets 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. Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow