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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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| Population | 1,830,000 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 237,559 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Romanian | Turkish | Spanish | Portuguese | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | High | Low | Moderate | Very High | High |
| Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | April - October | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | May - September | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1351 | $659 | $2498 | $1759 | $1289 |
| Rent | $615 | $354 | $1174 | $717 | $567 |
| Groceries | $114 | $44 | $175 | $148 | $10 |
| Dining out | $165 | $81 | $313 | $280 | $227 |
| Cafe | $38 | $18 | $51 | $45 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $133 | $49 | $196 | $96 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $7 | $3 | $10 | $21 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $21 | $6 | $78 | $95 | $30 |
| Taxis | $9 | $6 | $44 | $25 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $2 | $49 | $10 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $29 | $11 | $54 | $45 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $29 | $15 | $20 | $24 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $45 | $22 | $82 | $66 | $82 |
| Gym | $30 | $9 | $44 | $56 | $23 |
| Yoga | $59 | $23 | $142 | $82 | $62 |
| Massage | $31 | $15 | $64 | $48 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
| Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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 | 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 variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | 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 | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
| Eat like a local | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | 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! | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |