Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
Porto ๐ต๐น
|
Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
|
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Population | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 259,453 | 237,559 | 9,963,452 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Portuguese | Korean |
Level of English | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Very High | Moderate |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | January - May, October - December | May - September | March - May, September - November |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $2498 | $2143 | $1759 | $2184 |
Rent | $354 | $1174 | $923 | $717 | $797 |
Groceries | $44 | $175 | $127 | $148 | $356 |
Dining out | $81 | $313 | $207 | $280 | $211 |
Cafe | $18 | $51 | $42 | $45 | $69 |
Coworking space | $49 | $196 | $160 | $96 | $222 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $10 | $21 | $21 | $40 |
Public transportation | $6 | $78 | $17 | $95 | $40 |
Taxis | $6 | $44 | $9 | $25 | $41 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $49 | $49 | $10 | $13 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $54 | $97 | $45 | $39 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $20 | $217 | $24 | $6 |
Nightlife | $22 | $82 | $77 | $66 | $93 |
Gym | $9 | $44 | $42 | $56 | $69 |
Yoga | $23 | $142 | $54 | $82 | $112 |
Massage | $15 | $64 | $101 | $48 | $75 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | Not customary or expected |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | N/A | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Uber, Kakao |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | 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. | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. |
Local food specialities | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam |
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! | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow |