Budapest 🇭🇺
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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 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 1,305,737 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Hungarian | Turkish | Greek | Czech | Bulgarian |
Level of English | High | Low | High | High | High |
Main airport | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | 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 | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | June - October | April-June, September-October |
Currency | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted most places (some places are cash only) | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $1230 | $659 | $1959 | $1806 | $1289 |
Rent | $499 | $354 | $678 | $780 | $567 |
Groceries | $108 | $44 | $157 | $158 | $10 |
Dining out | $202 | $81 | $261 | $240 | $227 |
Cafe | $29 | $18 | $56 | $53 | $27 |
Coworking space | $120 | $49 | $209 | $175 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $9 | $3 | $35 | $24 | $10 |
Public transportation | $36 | $6 | $63 | $61 | $30 |
Taxis | $27 | $6 | $42 | $33 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $13 | $2 | $45 | $19 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $24 | $11 | $28 | $19 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $7 | $15 | $8 | $35 | $12 |
Nightlife | $43 | $22 | $110 | $50 | $82 |
Gym | $37 | $9 | $107 | $56 | $23 |
Yoga | $48 | $23 | $105 | $66 | $62 |
Massage | $26 | $15 | $54 | $37 | $29 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Telenor | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone, T-Mobile | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars | 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 | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, Liftago | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | 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. | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |