|
Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
| Population | 15,520,000 | 259,453 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Turkish | Spanish | Korean | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | January - May, October - December | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No |
| Average monthly costs | $659 | $2143 | $2184 | $1289 |
| Rent | $354 | $923 | $797 | $567 |
| Groceries | $44 | $127 | $356 | $10 |
| Dining out | $81 | $207 | $211 | $227 |
| Cafe | $18 | $42 | $69 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $49 | $160 | $222 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $3 | $21 | $40 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $6 | $17 | $40 | $30 |
| Taxis | $6 | $9 | $41 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $49 | $13 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $11 | $97 | $39 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $217 | $6 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $22 | $77 | $93 | $82 |
| Gym | $9 | $42 | $69 | $23 |
| Yoga | $23 | $54 | $112 | $62 |
| Massage | $15 | $101 | $75 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Telcel, Movistar | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10-15% for restaurants | Not customary or expected | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
| Taxi apps | BiTaksi | N/A | Uber, Kakao | 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 | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. | 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | 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 | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |