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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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| Population | 3,400,000 | 1,768,073 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | German | Hungarian | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Very high | High | High |
| Main airport | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | May - September | March - June, September - November | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
| Credit cards | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No |
| Average monthly costs | $2200 | $1230 | $1289 |
| Rent | $939 | $499 | $567 |
| Groceries | $188 | $108 | $10 |
| Dining out | $271 | $202 | $227 |
| Cafe | $57 | $29 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $174 | $120 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $23 | $9 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $88 | $36 | $30 |
| Taxis | $58 | $27 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $13 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $64 | $24 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $37 | $7 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $63 | $43 | $82 |
| Gym | $66 | $37 | $23 |
| Yoga | $99 | $48 | $62 |
| Massage | $56 | $26 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | Vodafone, Telenor | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
| Taxi apps | Mytaxi, Uber | Bolt, Fotaxi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread | 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. | 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 | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
| Eat like a local | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 47 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow |