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Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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| Population | 1,768,073 | 15,520,000 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Hungarian | Turkish | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | High | Low | High |
| Main airport | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | March - June, September - November | April - June, September and October | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1230 | $659 | $1289 |
| Rent | $499 | $354 | $567 |
| Groceries | $108 | $44 | $10 |
| Dining out | $202 | $81 | $227 |
| Cafe | $29 | $18 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $120 | $49 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $9 | $3 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $36 | $6 | $30 |
| Taxis | $27 | $6 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $13 | $2 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $24 | $11 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $7 | $15 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $22 | $82 |
| Gym | $37 | $9 | $23 |
| Yoga | $48 | $23 | $62 |
| Massage | $26 | $15 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Telenor | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
| Taxi apps | Bolt, Fotaxi | BiTaksi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 20 options on HappyCow |