Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs New York City

Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) Turkish Portuguese Spanish Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English Low Very high Moderate Moderate Very high
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April - June, September - November
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $659 $1984 $2498 $1867 $5431
Rent $354 $965 $1174 $778 $2891
Groceries $44 $136 $175 $281 $383
Dining out $81 $271 $313 $182 $656
Cafe $18 $37 $51 $49 $72
Coworking space $49 $164 $196 $159 $326
Mobile internet $3 $24 $10 $25 $45
Public transportation $6 $63 $78 $11 $220
Taxis $6 $27 $44 $9 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $18 $49 $24 $30
Sport and cultural events $11 $29 $54 $81 $100
Museums and sights $15 $24 $20 $20 $74
Nightlife $22 $47 $82 $64 $195
Gym $9 $65 $44 $69 $55
Yoga $23 $65 $142 $65 $197
Massage $15 $50 $64 $51 $109
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar AT&T, Verizon
Tipping Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber Uber, Lyft
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish 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. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
Local food specialities Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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! Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow