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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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| Population | 1,830,000 | 1,768,073 | 144,900 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Romanian | Hungarian | Greek | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | High | High | High | High |
| Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | April - October | March - June, September - November | March - May, October - December | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | EUR - Euro (€) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1230 | $1959 | $1289 |
| Rent | $615 | $499 | $678 | $567 |
| Groceries | $114 | $108 | $157 | $10 |
| Dining out | $165 | $202 | $261 | $227 |
| Cafe | $38 | $29 | $56 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $133 | $120 | $209 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $7 | $9 | $35 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $21 | $36 | $63 | $30 |
| Taxis | $9 | $27 | $42 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $13 | $45 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $29 | $24 | $28 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $29 | $7 | $8 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $110 | $82 |
| Gym | $30 | $37 | $107 | $23 |
| Yoga | $59 | $48 | $105 | $62 |
| Massage | $31 | $26 | $54 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Vodafone, Telenor | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
| Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Bolt, Fotaxi | nTaxi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian 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. | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | 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 | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
| Eat like a local | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 47 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 20 options on HappyCow |