Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Mexico City vs Porto vs Sofia

Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Porto ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 15,520,000 144,900 8,850,000 237,559 1,270,169
Official language(s) Turkish Greek Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Low High Moderate Very High High
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, October, November May - September April-June, September-October
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $659 $1959 $1867 $1759 $1289
Rent $354 $678 $778 $717 $567
Groceries $44 $157 $281 $148 $10
Dining out $81 $261 $182 $280 $227
Cafe $18 $56 $49 $45 $27
Coworking space $49 $209 $159 $96 $140
Mobile internet $3 $35 $25 $21 $10
Public transportation $6 $63 $11 $95 $30
Taxis $6 $42 $9 $25 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $45 $24 $10 $40
Sport and cultural events $11 $28 $81 $45 $18
Museums and sights $15 $8 $20 $24 $12
Nightlife $22 $110 $64 $66 $82
Gym $9 $107 $69 $56 $23
Yoga $23 $105 $65 $82 $62
Massage $15 $54 $51 $48 $29
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS 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 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps BiTaksi nTaxi Uber Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. 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 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 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 20 options on HappyCow