Budapest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 1,768,073 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) Hungarian Thai Turkish Spanish
Level of English High Low Low Moderate
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1230 $974 $659 $2498
Rent $499 $274 $354 $1174
Groceries $108 $169 $44 $175
Dining out $202 $108 $81 $313
Cafe $29 $45 $18 $51
Coworking space $120 $95 $49 $196
Mobile internet $9 $11 $3 $10
Public transportation $36 $60 $6 $78
Taxis $27 $20 $6 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $10 $2 $49
Sport and cultural events $24 $8 $11 $54
Museums and sights $7 $8 $15 $20
Nightlife $43 $62 $22 $82
Gym $37 $41 $9 $44
Yoga $48 $55 $23 $142
Massage $26 $10 $15 $64
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. 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 Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros
Eat like a local Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food 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 47 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow