Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population | 15,520,000 | 2,427,000 | 1,270,169 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Spanish | Bulgarian | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | Low | Low | High | Moderate |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | January - April, December | April-June, September-October | March - June, September, October |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) | EUR - Euro (€) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted in some places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1293 | $1289 | $1976 |
Rent | $354 | $732 | $567 | $869 |
Groceries | $44 | $87 | $10 | $146 |
Dining out | $81 | $131 | $227 | $292 |
Cafe | $18 | $18 | $27 | $42 |
Coworking space | $49 | $96 | $140 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $16 | $10 | $16 |
Public transportation | $6 | $21 | $30 | $38 |
Taxis | $6 | $14 | $12 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $0 | $40 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $8 | $18 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $9 | $12 | $44 |
Nightlife | $22 | $73 | $82 | $66 |
Gym | $9 | $15 | $23 | $34 |
Yoga | $23 | $54 | $62 | $87 |
Massage | $15 | $20 | $29 | $45 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Claro, Tigo | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Vodafone, Orange |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés | Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | EasyTaxi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | 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 | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | 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 | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | 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 | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |