Istanbul 🇹🇷
|
Lisbon 🇵🇹
|
Madrid 🇪🇸
|
Mexico City 🇲🇽
|
Valencia 🇪🇸
|
|
Population | 15,520,000 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | Low | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | March - June, September, October |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | EUR - Euro (€) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1984 | $2498 | $1867 | $1976 |
Rent | $354 | $965 | $1174 | $778 | $869 |
Groceries | $44 | $136 | $175 | $281 | $146 |
Dining out | $81 | $271 | $313 | $182 | $292 |
Cafe | $18 | $37 | $51 | $49 | $42 |
Coworking space | $49 | $164 | $196 | $159 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $24 | $10 | $25 | $16 |
Public transportation | $6 | $63 | $78 | $11 | $38 |
Taxis | $6 | $27 | $44 | $9 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $18 | $49 | $24 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $29 | $54 | $81 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $24 | $20 | $20 | $44 |
Nightlife | $22 | $47 | $82 | $64 | $66 |
Gym | $9 | $65 | $44 | $69 | $34 |
Yoga | $23 | $65 | $142 | $65 | $87 |
Massage | $15 | $50 | $64 | $51 | $45 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | Vodafone, Orange |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats |
Local food specialities | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Paella, fideuà , esgarrat, orxata, bunyols |
Eat like a local | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! | Markets, food stalls, menú del dÃa (cheap set lunch menus) | Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches) |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |