Barcelona vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Porto vs Sofia

Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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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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Porto ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 5,585,556 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 237,559 1,270,169
Official language(s) Catalan, Spanish Portuguese Spanish Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English High Very high Moderate Moderate Very High High
Main airport Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - June, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November May - September April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $2384 $1984 $2498 $1867 $1759 $1289
Rent $932 $965 $1174 $778 $717 $567
Groceries $121 $136 $175 $281 $148 $10
Dining out $403 $271 $313 $182 $280 $227
Cafe $45 $37 $51 $49 $45 $27
Coworking space $213 $164 $196 $159 $96 $140
Mobile internet $10 $24 $10 $25 $21 $10
Public transportation $127 $63 $78 $11 $95 $30
Taxis $48 $27 $44 $9 $25 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $24 $18 $49 $24 $10 $40
Sport and cultural events $81 $29 $54 $81 $45 $18
Museums and sights $33 $24 $20 $20 $24 $12
Nightlife $112 $47 $82 $64 $66 $82
Gym $81 $65 $44 $69 $56 $23
Yoga $93 $65 $142 $65 $82 $62
Massage $59 $50 $64 $51 $48 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Cabify, FreeNow Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. 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 A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. 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 Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo 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 Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots 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) Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 98 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow