Budapest vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Madrid

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Population 1,768,073 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179
Official language(s) Hungarian Turkish Portuguese Spanish
Level of English High Low Very high Moderate
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1230 $659 $1984 $2498
Rent $499 $354 $965 $1174
Groceries $108 $44 $136 $175
Dining out $202 $81 $271 $313
Cafe $29 $18 $37 $51
Coworking space $120 $49 $164 $196
Mobile internet $9 $3 $24 $10
Public transportation $36 $6 $63 $78
Taxis $27 $6 $27 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $2 $18 $49
Sport and cultural events $24 $11 $29 $54
Museums and sights $7 $15 $24 $20
Nightlife $43 $22 $47 $82
Gym $37 $9 $65 $44
Yoga $48 $23 $65 $142
Massage $26 $15 $50 $64
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
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.
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Drinkable Not 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.
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
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!
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow