Budapest vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,768,073 15,520,000 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Hungarian Turkish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English High Low Moderate High
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1230 $659 $1867 $1289
Rent $499 $354 $778 $567
Groceries $108 $44 $281 $10
Dining out $202 $81 $182 $227
Cafe $29 $18 $49 $27
Coworking space $120 $49 $159 $140
Mobile internet $9 $3 $25 $10
Public transportation $36 $6 $11 $30
Taxis $27 $6 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $2 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $24 $11 $81 $18
Museums and sights $7 $15 $20 $12
Nightlife $43 $22 $64 $82
Gym $37 $9 $69 $23
Yoga $48 $23 $65 $62
Massage $26 $15 $51 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow