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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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| Population | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 2,427,000 | 8,850,000 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Low | Moderate | Low | Moderate | High |
| Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | January - April, December | March - May, October, November | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
| Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $659 | $2498 | $1293 | $1867 | $1289 |
| Rent | $354 | $1174 | $732 | $778 | $567 |
| Groceries | $44 | $175 | $87 | $281 | $10 |
| Dining out | $81 | $313 | $131 | $182 | $227 |
| Cafe | $18 | $51 | $18 | $49 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $49 | $196 | $96 | $159 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $3 | $10 | $16 | $25 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $6 | $78 | $21 | $11 | $30 |
| Taxis | $6 | $44 | $14 | $9 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $49 | $0 | $24 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $11 | $54 | $8 | $81 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $20 | $9 | $20 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $22 | $82 | $73 | $64 | $82 |
| Gym | $9 | $44 | $15 | $69 | $23 |
| Yoga | $23 | $142 | $54 | $65 | $62 |
| Massage | $15 | $64 | $20 | $51 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Tigo | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
| Taxi apps | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | EasyTaxi | Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | 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. |
| Local food specialities | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | 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 | 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! | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Markets, food stalls, menú del dÃa (cheap set lunch menus) | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |