Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Lisbon ๐ต๐น
|
Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
Population | 144,900 | 517,000 | 259,453 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Greek | Portuguese | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | High | Very high | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, October - December | March - May, September, October | January - May, October - December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $1959 | $1984 | $2143 | $1289 |
Rent | $678 | $965 | $923 | $567 |
Groceries | $157 | $136 | $127 | $10 |
Dining out | $261 | $271 | $207 | $227 |
Cafe | $56 | $37 | $42 | $27 |
Coworking space | $209 | $164 | $160 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $35 | $24 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $63 | $63 | $17 | $30 |
Taxis | $42 | $27 | $9 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $45 | $18 | $49 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $28 | $29 | $97 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $8 | $24 | $217 | $12 |
Nightlife | $110 | $47 | $77 | $82 |
Gym | $107 | $65 | $42 | $23 |
Yoga | $105 | $65 | $54 | $62 |
Massage | $54 | $50 | $101 | $29 |
SIM card options | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | nTaxi | Uber, FreeNow | N/A | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | 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 | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | 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 | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau ร bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
Eat like a local | 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 | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |