Budapest vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Panama City vs Sofia

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,768,073 15,520,000 144,900 880,691 1,270,169
Official language(s) Hungarian Turkish Greek Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English High Low High Low High
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October - December December - April April-June, September-October
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1230 $659 $1959 $2359 $1289
Rent $499 $354 $678 $1036 $567
Groceries $108 $44 $157 $236 $10
Dining out $202 $81 $261 $371 $227
Cafe $29 $18 $56 $43 $27
Coworking space $120 $49 $209 $157 $140
Mobile internet $9 $3 $35 $21 $10
Public transportation $36 $6 $63 $12 $30
Taxis $27 $6 $42 $48 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $2 $45 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $24 $11 $28 $35 $18
Museums and sights $7 $15 $8 $9 $12
Nightlife $43 $22 $110 $117 $82
Gym $37 $9 $107 $37 $23
Yoga $48 $23 $105 $163 $62
Massage $26 $15 $54 $75 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Claro, Movistar 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% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, Tu Chofer TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. 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.. Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. 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 Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja 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. Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks 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 7 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow