Budapest vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Mexico City

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 1,768,073 15,520,000 144,900 517,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) Hungarian Turkish Greek Portuguese Spanish
Level of English High Low High Very high Moderate
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, October, November
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1230 $659 $1959 $1984 $1867
Rent $499 $354 $678 $965 $778
Groceries $108 $44 $157 $136 $281
Dining out $202 $81 $261 $271 $182
Cafe $29 $18 $56 $37 $49
Coworking space $120 $49 $209 $164 $159
Mobile internet $9 $3 $35 $24 $25
Public transportation $36 $6 $63 $63 $11
Taxis $27 $6 $42 $27 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $2 $45 $18 $24
Sport and cultural events $24 $11 $28 $29 $81
Museums and sights $7 $15 $8 $24 $20
Nightlife $43 $22 $110 $47 $64
Gym $37 $9 $107 $65 $69
Yoga $48 $23 $105 $65 $65
Massage $26 $15 $54 $50 $51
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
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 Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow