Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Lviv ๐บ๐ฆ
|
Tbilisi ๐ฌ๐ช
|
|
Population | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 731,387 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Greek | Ukrainian | Georgian |
Level of English | Low | High | Low | Low |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | May - September | March - June |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (โด) | GEL - Georgian Lari (โพ) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1959 | $922 | $1462 |
Rent | $354 | $678 | $400 | $752 |
Groceries | $44 | $157 | $91 | $112 |
Dining out | $81 | $261 | $151 | $169 |
Cafe | $18 | $56 | $21 | $45 |
Coworking space | $49 | $209 | $79 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $35 | $4 | $4 |
Public transportation | $6 | $63 | $5 | $8 |
Taxis | $6 | $42 | $12 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $45 | $16 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $28 | $13 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $9 | $9 |
Nightlife | $22 | $110 | $43 | $53 |
Gym | $9 | $107 | $22 | $33 |
Yoga | $23 | $105 | $30 | $37 |
Massage | $15 | $54 | $27 | $53 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone, Kyivstar | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
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% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafรฉs. |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, Uklon | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | 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). | Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. |
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 | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli |
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 | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
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 | 10 options on Happy Cow |