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

Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Ubud 🇮🇩
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Population 15,520,000 144,900 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 1,270,169 112,490
Official language(s) Turkish Greek Portuguese Spanish Spanish Bulgarian Indonesian and Balinese
Level of English Low High Very high Moderate Moderate High Low
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPA)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April-June, September-October May - October
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) IDR - Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $659 $1959 $1984 $2498 $1867 $1289 $1363
Rent $354 $678 $965 $1174 $778 $567 $658
Groceries $44 $157 $136 $175 $281 $10 $150
Dining out $81 $261 $271 $313 $182 $227 $10
Cafe $18 $56 $37 $51 $49 $27 $28
Coworking space $49 $209 $164 $196 $159 $140 $106
Mobile internet $3 $35 $24 $10 $25 $10 $3
Public transportation $6 $63 $63 $78 $11 $30 $53
Taxis $6 $42 $27 $44 $9 $12 $13
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $45 $18 $49 $24 $40 $33
Sport and cultural events $11 $28 $29 $54 $81 $18 $14
Museums and sights $15 $8 $24 $20 $20 $12 $9
Nightlife $22 $110 $47 $82 $64 $82 $118
Gym $9 $107 $65 $44 $69 $23 $72
Yoga $23 $105 $65 $142 $65 $62 $87
Massage $15 $54 $50 $64 $51 $29 $10
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom Telkomsel, XL Axiata
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 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 Tip 5 - 10% in restaurants if service charge is not included in the bill
Taxi apps BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars Grab, GoJek
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not 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 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. Balinese foods revolve on the complex flavors from certain ingredients like fresh vegetables, meat, coconut milk, and time-tested spices mixture.
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 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 Satay, nasi goreng, gado-gado, martabak, bubur sumsum
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 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. Warung for authentic babi guling and bebek betutu, cafes for kopi luwak, street stalls for pisang goreng, nasi campur, and sate lilit
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 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 255 listings on Happy Cow