Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs New York City vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,830,000 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 8,323,340 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Turkish Portuguese Spanish Spanish English (de facto) Bulgarian
Level of English High Low Very high Moderate Moderate Very high High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October April - June, September and October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April - June, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $659 $1984 $2498 $1867 $5431 $1289
Rent $615 $354 $965 $1174 $778 $2891 $567
Groceries $114 $44 $136 $175 $281 $383 $10
Dining out $165 $81 $271 $313 $182 $656 $227
Cafe $38 $18 $37 $51 $49 $72 $27
Coworking space $133 $49 $164 $196 $159 $326 $140
Mobile internet $7 $3 $24 $10 $25 $45 $10
Public transportation $21 $6 $63 $78 $11 $220 $30
Taxis $9 $6 $27 $44 $9 $78 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $2 $18 $49 $24 $30 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $11 $29 $54 $81 $100 $18
Museums and sights $29 $15 $24 $20 $20 $74 $12
Nightlife $45 $22 $47 $82 $64 $195 $82
Gym $30 $9 $65 $44 $69 $55 $23
Yoga $59 $23 $65 $142 $65 $197 $62
Massage $31 $15 $50 $64 $51 $109 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar AT&T, Verizon A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 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 Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber Uber, Lyft TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine 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 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 American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. 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 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 Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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) Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow