Berlin vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Madrid

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 3,400,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) German Hungarian Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit May - September March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency EUR - Euro (€) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes
Average monthly costs $2200 $1230 $659 $2498
Rent $939 $499 $354 $1174
Groceries $188 $108 $44 $175
Dining out $271 $202 $81 $313
Cafe $57 $29 $18 $51
Coworking space $174 $120 $49 $196
Mobile internet $23 $9 $3 $10
Public transportation $88 $36 $6 $78
Taxis $58 $27 $6 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $13 $2 $49
Sport and cultural events $64 $24 $11 $54
Museums and sights $37 $7 $15 $20
Nightlife $63 $43 $22 $82
Gym $66 $37 $9 $44
Yoga $99 $48 $23 $142
Massage $56 $26 $15 $64
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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, 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 Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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 844 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow