Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population | 15,520,000 | 517,000 | 8,850,000 | 1,270,169 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Portuguese | Spanish | Bulgarian | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | Low | Very high | Moderate | High | Moderate |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October | March - May, October, November | April-June, September-October | March - June, September, October |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) | EUR - Euro (€) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1984 | $1867 | $1289 | $1976 |
Rent | $354 | $965 | $778 | $567 | $869 |
Groceries | $44 | $136 | $281 | $10 | $146 |
Dining out | $81 | $271 | $182 | $227 | $292 |
Cafe | $18 | $37 | $49 | $27 | $42 |
Coworking space | $49 | $164 | $159 | $140 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $24 | $25 | $10 | $16 |
Public transportation | $6 | $63 | $11 | $30 | $38 |
Taxis | $6 | $27 | $9 | $12 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $18 | $24 | $40 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $29 | $81 | $18 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $24 | $20 | $12 | $44 |
Nightlife | $22 | $47 | $64 | $82 | $66 |
Gym | $9 | $65 | $69 | $23 | $34 |
Yoga | $23 | $65 | $65 | $62 | $87 |
Massage | $15 | $50 | $51 | $29 | $45 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Vodafone, Orange |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés | Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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 | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | 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. | 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 | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | 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 | Markets, food stalls, menú del dÃa (cheap set lunch menus) | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches) |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |