Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Medellin vs Mexico City vs Porto vs Seoul vs Sofia

Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 15,520,000 144,900 2,427,000 8,850,000 237,559 9,963,452 1,270,169
Official language(s) Turkish Greek Spanish Spanish Portuguese Korean Bulgarian
Level of English Low High Low Moderate Very High Moderate High
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, October - December January - April, December March - May, October, November May - September March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€) KRW - South Korean won (₩) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No No
Average monthly costs $659 $1959 $1293 $1867 $1759 $2184 $1289
Rent $354 $678 $732 $778 $717 $797 $567
Groceries $44 $157 $87 $281 $148 $356 $10
Dining out $81 $261 $131 $182 $280 $211 $227
Cafe $18 $56 $18 $49 $45 $69 $27
Coworking space $49 $209 $96 $159 $96 $222 $140
Mobile internet $3 $35 $16 $25 $21 $40 $10
Public transportation $6 $63 $21 $11 $95 $40 $30
Taxis $6 $42 $14 $9 $25 $41 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $45 $0 $24 $10 $13 $40
Sport and cultural events $11 $28 $8 $81 $45 $39 $18
Museums and sights $15 $8 $9 $20 $24 $6 $12
Nightlife $22 $110 $73 $64 $66 $93 $82
Gym $9 $107 $15 $69 $56 $69 $23
Yoga $23 $105 $54 $65 $82 $112 $62
Massage $15 $54 $20 $51 $48 $75 $29
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars Not customary or expected 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps BiTaksi nTaxi EasyTaxi Uber Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable 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.. A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. 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 Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam 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. Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets 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 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow