Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Medellin vs Sofia

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 María 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