Budapest vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Porto vs Sofia

Budapest 🇭🇺
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,768,073 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 237,559 1,270,169
Official language(s) Hungarian Portuguese Spanish Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English High Very high Moderate Moderate Very High High
Main airport Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - June, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November May - September April-June, September-October
Currency HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1230 $1984 $2498 $1867 $1759 $1289
Rent $499 $965 $1174 $778 $717 $567
Groceries $108 $136 $175 $281 $148 $10
Dining out $202 $271 $313 $182 $280 $227
Cafe $29 $37 $51 $49 $45 $27
Coworking space $120 $164 $196 $159 $96 $140
Mobile internet $9 $24 $10 $25 $21 $10
Public transportation $36 $63 $78 $11 $95 $30
Taxis $27 $27 $44 $9 $25 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $13 $18 $49 $24 $10 $40
Sport and cultural events $24 $29 $54 $81 $45 $18
Museums and sights $7 $24 $20 $20 $24 $12
Nightlife $43 $47 $82 $64 $66 $82
Gym $37 $65 $44 $69 $56 $23
Yoga $48 $65 $142 $65 $82 $62
Massage $26 $50 $64 $51 $48 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Telenor Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy 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 Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Tascas, snack bars, seafood 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! Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 47 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow