Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Prague vs Sofia

Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 15,520,000 8,850,000 1,305,737 1,270,169
Official language(s) Turkish Spanish Czech Bulgarian
Level of English Low Moderate High High
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, October, November June - October April-June, September-October
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted most places (some places are cash only) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $659 $1867 $1806 $1289
Rent $354 $778 $780 $567
Groceries $44 $281 $158 $10
Dining out $81 $182 $240 $227
Cafe $18 $49 $53 $27
Coworking space $49 $159 $175 $140
Mobile internet $3 $25 $24 $10
Public transportation $6 $11 $61 $30
Taxis $6 $9 $33 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $24 $19 $40
Sport and cultural events $11 $81 $19 $18
Museums and sights $15 $20 $35 $12
Nightlife $22 $64 $50 $82
Gym $9 $69 $56 $23
Yoga $23 $65 $66 $62
Massage $15 $51 $37 $29
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, T-Mobile A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps BiTaksi Uber Uber, Liftago TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. 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 Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 112 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow