Budapest vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs New York City

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Population 1,768,073 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179 8,323,340
Official language(s) Hungarian Turkish Portuguese Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English High Low Very high Moderate Very high
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November April - June, September - November
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1230 $659 $1984 $2498 $5431
Rent $499 $354 $965 $1174 $2891
Groceries $108 $44 $136 $175 $383
Dining out $202 $81 $271 $313 $656
Cafe $29 $18 $37 $51 $72
Coworking space $120 $49 $164 $196 $326
Mobile internet $9 $3 $24 $10 $45
Public transportation $36 $6 $63 $78 $220
Taxis $27 $6 $27 $44 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $2 $18 $49 $30
Sport and cultural events $24 $11 $29 $54 $100
Museums and sights $7 $15 $24 $20 $74
Nightlife $43 $22 $47 $82 $195
Gym $37 $9 $65 $44 $55
Yoga $48 $23 $65 $142 $197
Massage $26 $15 $50 $64 $109
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 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. 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Lyft
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable 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 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. American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
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 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 Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local 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! Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow