Budapest vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Tbilisi

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Population 1,768,073 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179 1,108,700
Official language(s) Hungarian Turkish Portuguese Spanish Georgian
Level of English High Low Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - June
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) GEL - Georgian Lari (₾)
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 Yes
Average monthly costs $1230 $659 $1984 $2498 $1462
Rent $499 $354 $965 $1174 $752
Groceries $108 $44 $136 $175 $112
Dining out $202 $81 $271 $313 $169
Cafe $29 $18 $37 $51 $45
Coworking space $120 $49 $164 $196 $125
Mobile internet $9 $3 $24 $10 $4
Public transportation $36 $6 $63 $78 $8
Taxis $27 $6 $27 $44 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $2 $18 $49 $27
Sport and cultural events $24 $11 $29 $54 $21
Museums and sights $7 $15 $24 $20 $9
Nightlife $43 $22 $47 $82 $53
Gym $37 $9 $65 $44 $33
Yoga $48 $23 $65 $142 $37
Massage $26 $15 $50 $64 $53
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline
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. 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés.
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Yandex, Bolt
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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 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. Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams.
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 Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli
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! Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 10 options on Happy Cow