Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Lviv ๐บ๐ฆ
|
Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
Population | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 731,387 | 880,691 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Greek | Ukrainian | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Low | High | Low | Low | High |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | May - September | December - April | April-June, September-October |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (โด) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1959 | $922 | $2359 | $1289 |
Rent | $354 | $678 | $400 | $1036 | $567 |
Groceries | $44 | $157 | $91 | $236 | $10 |
Dining out | $81 | $261 | $151 | $371 | $227 |
Cafe | $18 | $56 | $21 | $43 | $27 |
Coworking space | $49 | $209 | $79 | $157 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $35 | $4 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $6 | $63 | $5 | $12 | $30 |
Taxis | $6 | $42 | $12 | $48 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $45 | $16 | $0 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $28 | $13 | $35 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $9 | $9 | $12 |
Nightlife | $22 | $110 | $43 | $117 | $82 |
Gym | $9 | $107 | $22 | $37 | $23 |
Yoga | $23 | $105 | $30 | $163 | $62 |
Massage | $15 | $54 | $27 | $75 | $29 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone, Kyivstar | Claro, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, Uklon | Uber, Tu Chofer | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not 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.. | 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). | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. | 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja | 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. | Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | 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 | 9 options on HappyCow | 7 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow |