Berlin vs Istanbul vs Prague vs Sofia

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 15,520,000 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Turkish Czech Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low High High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Istanbul Airport (IST) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September April - June, September and October June - October April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted in most places Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2200 $659 $1806 $1289
Rent $939 $354 $780 $567
Groceries $188 $44 $158 $10
Dining out $271 $81 $240 $227
Cafe $57 $18 $53 $27
Coworking space $174 $49 $175 $140
Mobile internet $23 $3 $24 $10
Public transportation $88 $6 $61 $30
Taxis $58 $6 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $2 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $11 $19 $18
Museums and sights $37 $15 $35 $12
Nightlife $63 $22 $50 $82
Gym $66 $9 $56 $23
Yoga $99 $23 $66 $62
Massage $56 $15 $37 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, T-Mobile A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow