Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Lviv vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 15,520,000 144,900 517,000 731,387 6,578,0179 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Turkish Greek Portuguese Ukrainian Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low High Very high Low Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September, October May - September March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $659 $1959 $1984 $922 $2498 $1867 $1289
Rent $354 $678 $965 $400 $1174 $778 $567
Groceries $44 $157 $136 $91 $175 $281 $10
Dining out $81 $261 $271 $151 $313 $182 $227
Cafe $18 $56 $37 $21 $51 $49 $27
Coworking space $49 $209 $164 $79 $196 $159 $140
Mobile internet $3 $35 $24 $4 $10 $25 $10
Public transportation $6 $63 $63 $5 $78 $11 $30
Taxis $6 $42 $27 $12 $44 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $45 $18 $16 $49 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $11 $28 $29 $13 $54 $81 $18
Museums and sights $15 $8 $24 $9 $20 $20 $12
Nightlife $22 $110 $47 $43 $82 $64 $82
Gym $9 $107 $65 $22 $44 $69 $23
Yoga $23 $105 $65 $30 $142 $65 $62
Massage $15 $54 $50 $27 $64 $51 $29
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Vodafone, Kyivstar Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 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 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Uklon Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall 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 Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 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 Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local 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 Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries 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! Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 9 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow