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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Lisbon ๐ต๐น
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Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
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Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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| Population | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 259,453 |
| Official language(s) | Turkish | Greek | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Low | High | Very high | Moderate | Moderate |
| Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | January - May, October - December |
| Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $659 | $1959 | $1984 | $2498 | $2143 |
| Rent | $354 | $678 | $965 | $1174 | $923 |
| Groceries | $44 | $157 | $136 | $175 | $127 |
| Dining out | $81 | $261 | $271 | $313 | $207 |
| Cafe | $18 | $56 | $37 | $51 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $49 | $209 | $164 | $196 | $160 |
| Mobile internet | $3 | $35 | $24 | $10 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $6 | $63 | $63 | $78 | $17 |
| Taxis | $6 | $42 | $27 | $44 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $45 | $18 | $49 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $11 | $28 | $29 | $54 | $97 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $24 | $20 | $217 |
| Nightlife | $22 | $110 | $47 | $82 | $77 |
| Gym | $9 | $107 | $65 | $44 | $42 |
| Yoga | $23 | $105 | $65 | $142 | $54 |
| Massage | $15 | $54 | $50 | $64 | $101 |
| SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants |
| Taxi apps | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | N/A |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | 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 |
| Local food specialities | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau ร bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole |
| Eat like a local | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | 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 |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |