Istanbul vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

Istanbul 🇹🇷
Remove
Madrid 🇪🇸
Remove
Mexico City 🇲🇽
Remove
Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
Remove
Sofia 🇧🇬
Remove
Population 15,520,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) Turkish Spanish Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Low Moderate Moderate Low High
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Galeão International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes No No
Average monthly costs $659 $2498 $1867 $1833 $1289
Rent $354 $1174 $778 $1066 $567
Groceries $44 $175 $281 $95 $10
Dining out $81 $313 $182 $210 $227
Cafe $18 $51 $49 $25 $27
Coworking space $49 $196 $159 $130 $140
Mobile internet $3 $10 $25 $7 $10
Public transportation $6 $78 $11 $33 $30
Taxis $6 $44 $9 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $49 $24 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $11 $54 $81 $55 $18
Museums and sights $15 $20 $20 $26 $12
Nightlife $22 $82 $64 $54 $82
Gym $9 $44 $69 $31 $23
Yoga $23 $142 $65 $40 $62
Massage $15 $64 $51 $32 $29
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, 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. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. 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! Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. 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 279 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow