Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Porto vs Prague vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,830,000 15,520,000 237,559 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Turkish Portuguese Czech Bulgarian
Level of English High Low Very High High High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October April - June, September and October May - September June - October April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $659 $1759 $1806 $1289
Rent $615 $354 $717 $780 $567
Groceries $114 $44 $148 $158 $10
Dining out $165 $81 $280 $240 $227
Cafe $38 $18 $45 $53 $27
Coworking space $133 $49 $96 $175 $140
Mobile internet $7 $3 $21 $24 $10
Public transportation $21 $6 $95 $61 $30
Taxis $9 $6 $25 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $2 $10 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $11 $45 $19 $18
Museums and sights $29 $15 $24 $35 $12
Nightlife $45 $22 $66 $50 $82
Gym $30 $9 $56 $56 $23
Yoga $59 $23 $82 $66 $62
Massage $31 $15 $48 $37 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, MEO, NOS Vodafone, T-Mobile 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% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. 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 Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa 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 Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars 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 33 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow