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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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| Population | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Turkish | Greek | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Low | High | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $659 | $1959 | $2498 | $1867 | $1289 |
| Rent | $354 | $678 | $1174 | $778 | $567 |
| Groceries | $44 | $157 | $175 | $281 | $10 |
| Dining out | $81 | $261 | $313 | $182 | $227 |
| Cafe | $18 | $56 | $51 | $49 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $49 | $209 | $196 | $159 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $3 | $35 | $10 | $25 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $6 | $63 | $78 | $11 | $30 |
| Taxis | $6 | $42 | $44 | $9 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $45 | $49 | $24 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $11 | $28 | $54 | $81 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $20 | $20 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $22 | $110 | $82 | $64 | $82 |
| Gym | $9 | $107 | $44 | $69 | $23 |
| Yoga | $23 | $105 | $142 | $65 | $62 |
| Massage | $15 | $54 | $64 | $51 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
| Taxi apps | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | 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 | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | 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 | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | 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! | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |