Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population | 1,830,000 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 517,000 | 2,427,000 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Romanian | Turkish | Greek | Portuguese | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | High | Low | High | Very high | Low | High |
Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | April - October | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | March - May, September, October | January - April, December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted in some places | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $1351 | $659 | $1959 | $1984 | $1293 | $1289 |
Rent | $615 | $354 | $678 | $965 | $732 | $567 |
Groceries | $114 | $44 | $157 | $136 | $87 | $10 |
Dining out | $165 | $81 | $261 | $271 | $131 | $227 |
Cafe | $38 | $18 | $56 | $37 | $18 | $27 |
Coworking space | $133 | $49 | $209 | $164 | $96 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $7 | $3 | $35 | $24 | $16 | $10 |
Public transportation | $21 | $6 | $63 | $63 | $21 | $30 |
Taxis | $9 | $6 | $42 | $27 | $14 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $2 | $45 | $18 | $0 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $29 | $11 | $28 | $29 | $8 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $29 | $15 | $8 | $24 | $9 | $12 |
Nightlife | $45 | $22 | $110 | $47 | $73 | $82 |
Gym | $30 | $9 | $107 | $65 | $15 | $23 |
Yoga | $59 | $23 | $105 | $65 | $54 | $62 |
Massage | $31 | $15 | $54 | $50 | $20 | $29 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone | Claro, Tigo | 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 | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, FreeNow | EasyTaxi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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 | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | 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 | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | 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 | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | 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 | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |