Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
|
Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Porto ๐ต๐น
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Population | 1,830,000 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 237,559 |
Official language(s) | Romanian | Turkish | Greek | Portuguese |
Level of English | High | Low | High | Very High |
Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) |
Most common months to visit | April - October | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | May - September |
Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1351 | $659 | $1959 | $1759 |
Rent | $615 | $354 | $678 | $717 |
Groceries | $114 | $44 | $157 | $148 |
Dining out | $165 | $81 | $261 | $280 |
Cafe | $38 | $18 | $56 | $45 |
Coworking space | $133 | $49 | $209 | $96 |
Mobile internet | $7 | $3 | $35 | $21 |
Public transportation | $21 | $6 | $63 | $95 |
Taxis | $9 | $6 | $42 | $25 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $2 | $45 | $10 |
Sport and cultural events | $29 | $11 | $28 | $45 |
Museums and sights | $29 | $15 | $8 | $24 |
Nightlife | $45 | $22 | $110 | $66 |
Gym | $30 | $9 | $107 | $56 |
Yoga | $59 | $23 | $105 | $82 |
Massage | $31 | $15 | $54 | $48 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone, MEO, NOS |
Tipping | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars |
Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian 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 variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. |
Local food specialities | Sarmale, mฤmฤligฤ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤ de burtฤ, covrig, papanasi | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa |
Eat like a local | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | 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 taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 46 options on Happy Cow |