Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Porto ๐ต๐น
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Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 8,850,000 | 237,559 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Greek | Spanish | Portuguese | Korean | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Low | High | Moderate | Very High | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Francisco Sรก 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 | March - May, October, November | May - September | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1959 | $1867 | $1759 | $2184 | $1289 |
Rent | $354 | $678 | $778 | $717 | $797 | $567 |
Groceries | $44 | $157 | $281 | $148 | $356 | $10 |
Dining out | $81 | $261 | $182 | $280 | $211 | $227 |
Cafe | $18 | $56 | $49 | $45 | $69 | $27 |
Coworking space | $49 | $209 | $159 | $96 | $222 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $35 | $25 | $21 | $40 | $10 |
Public transportation | $6 | $63 | $11 | $95 | $40 | $30 |
Taxis | $6 | $42 | $9 | $25 | $41 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $45 | $24 | $10 | $13 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $28 | $81 | $45 | $39 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $20 | $24 | $6 | $12 |
Nightlife | $22 | $110 | $64 | $66 | $93 | $82 |
Gym | $9 | $107 | $69 | $56 | $69 | $23 |
Yoga | $23 | $105 | $65 | $82 | $112 | $62 |
Massage | $15 | $54 | $51 | $48 | $75 | $29 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Telcel, Movistar | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 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 cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Uber, Kakao | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | 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.. | 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | 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. | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (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 | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |