Budapest vs Istanbul vs Lviv vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen vs Seoul vs Sofia

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,768,073 15,520,000 731,387 8,850,000 259,453 9,963,452 1,270,169
Official language(s) Hungarian Turkish Ukrainian Spanish Spanish Korean Bulgarian
Level of English High Low Low Moderate Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November April - June, September and October May - September March - May, October, November January - May, October - December March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1230 $659 $922 $1867 $2143 $2184 $1289
Rent $499 $354 $400 $778 $923 $797 $567
Groceries $108 $44 $91 $281 $127 $356 $10
Dining out $202 $81 $151 $182 $207 $211 $227
Cafe $29 $18 $21 $49 $42 $69 $27
Coworking space $120 $49 $79 $159 $160 $222 $140
Mobile internet $9 $3 $4 $25 $21 $40 $10
Public transportation $36 $6 $5 $11 $17 $40 $30
Taxis $27 $6 $12 $9 $9 $41 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $2 $16 $24 $49 $13 $40
Sport and cultural events $24 $11 $13 $81 $97 $39 $18
Museums and sights $7 $15 $9 $20 $217 $6 $12
Nightlife $43 $22 $43 $64 $77 $93 $82
Gym $37 $9 $22 $69 $42 $69 $23
Yoga $48 $23 $30 $65 $54 $112 $62
Massage $26 $15 $27 $51 $101 $75 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants Not customary or expected 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, Uklon Uber N/A Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. 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 Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam 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 Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets 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 9 options on HappyCow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow