Budapest vs Madrid vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,768,073 6,578,0179 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) Hungarian Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English High Moderate Low High
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeão International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November March - May, September - November January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) EUR - Euro (€) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1230 $2498 $1833 $1289
Rent $499 $1174 $1066 $567
Groceries $108 $175 $95 $10
Dining out $202 $313 $210 $227
Cafe $29 $51 $25 $27
Coworking space $120 $196 $130 $140
Mobile internet $9 $10 $7 $10
Public transportation $36 $78 $33 $30
Taxis $27 $44 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $49 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $24 $54 $55 $18
Museums and sights $7 $20 $26 $12
Nightlife $43 $82 $54 $82
Gym $37 $44 $31 $23
Yoga $48 $142 $40 $62
Massage $26 $64 $32 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable 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. Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. 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 Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional 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! The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow