Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Porto vs Sofia

Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 2,900,000 15,520,000 6,578,0179 237,559 1,270,169
Official language(s) Spanish Turkish Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English High Low Moderate Very High High
Main airport Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit September - December April - June, September and October March - May, September - November May - September April-June, September-October
Currency ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1321 $659 $2498 $1759 $1289
Rent $844 $354 $1174 $717 $567
Groceries $98 $44 $175 $148 $10
Dining out $121 $81 $313 $280 $227
Cafe $25 $18 $51 $45 $27
Coworking space $95 $49 $196 $96 $140
Mobile internet $11 $3 $10 $21 $10
Public transportation $9 $6 $78 $95 $30
Taxis $9 $6 $44 $25 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $14 $2 $49 $10 $40
Sport and cultural events $24 $11 $54 $45 $18
Museums and sights $4 $15 $20 $24 $12
Nightlife $23 $22 $82 $66 $82
Gym $14 $9 $44 $56 $23
Yoga $19 $23 $142 $82 $62
Massage $10 $15 $64 $48 $29
SIM card options Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Vodafone, MEO, NOS A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. 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 Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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! Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow