Bucharest 🇷🇴
|
Istanbul 🇹🇷
|
Porto 🇵🇹
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Prague 🇨🇿
|
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 |