Barcelona vs Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Lisbon

Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Population 5,585,556 1,830,000 15,520,000 517,000
Official language(s) Catalan, Spanish Romanian Turkish Portuguese
Level of English High High Low Very high
Main airport Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
Most common months to visit April - June, September - November April - October April - June, September and October March - May, September, October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX)
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes
Average monthly costs $2384 $1351 $659 $1984
Rent $932 $615 $354 $965
Groceries $121 $114 $44 $136
Dining out $403 $165 $81 $271
Cafe $45 $38 $18 $37
Coworking space $213 $133 $49 $164
Mobile internet $10 $7 $3 $24
Public transportation $127 $21 $6 $63
Taxis $48 $9 $6 $27
Shared bicycles and scooters $24 $25 $2 $18
Sport and cultural events $81 $29 $11 $29
Museums and sights $33 $29 $15 $24
Nightlife $112 $45 $22 $47
Gym $81 $30 $9 $65
Yoga $93 $59 $23 $65
Massage $59 $31 $15 $50
SIM card options Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone
Tipping 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Cabify, FreeNow Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries
Local food specialities Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana
Eat like a local Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 98 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow