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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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| Population | 5,585,556 | 1,768,073 | 15,520,000 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 |
| Official language(s) | Catalan, Spanish | Hungarian | Turkish | Portuguese | Spanish |
| Level of English | High | High | Low | Very high | Moderate |
| Main airport | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September - November | March - June, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $2384 | $1230 | $659 | $1984 | $2498 |
| Rent | $932 | $499 | $354 | $965 | $1174 |
| Groceries | $121 | $108 | $44 | $136 | $175 |
| Dining out | $403 | $202 | $81 | $271 | $313 |
| Cafe | $45 | $29 | $18 | $37 | $51 |
| Coworking space | $213 | $120 | $49 | $164 | $196 |
| Mobile internet | $10 | $9 | $3 | $24 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $127 | $36 | $6 | $63 | $78 |
| Taxis | $48 | $27 | $6 | $27 | $44 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $24 | $13 | $2 | $18 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $81 | $24 | $11 | $29 | $54 |
| Museums and sights | $33 | $7 | $15 | $24 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $112 | $43 | $22 | $47 | $82 |
| Gym | $81 | $37 | $9 | $65 | $44 |
| Yoga | $93 | $48 | $23 | $65 | $142 |
| Massage | $59 | $26 | $15 | $50 | $64 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Movistar | Vodafone, Telenor | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone |
| Tipping | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
| Taxi apps | Cabify, FreeNow | Bolt, Fotaxi | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. | 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 | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. |
| Local food specialities | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros |
| Eat like a local | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 98 options on HappyCow | 47 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |