Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population | 15,520,000 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 237,559 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish | Portuguese | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Low | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | Very High | High |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | May - September | April-June, September-October |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1984 | $2498 | $1867 | $1759 | $1289 |
Rent | $354 | $965 | $1174 | $778 | $717 | $567 |
Groceries | $44 | $136 | $175 | $281 | $148 | $10 |
Dining out | $81 | $271 | $313 | $182 | $280 | $227 |
Cafe | $18 | $37 | $51 | $49 | $45 | $27 |
Coworking space | $49 | $164 | $196 | $159 | $96 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $24 | $10 | $25 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $6 | $63 | $78 | $11 | $95 | $30 |
Taxis | $6 | $27 | $44 | $9 | $25 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $18 | $49 | $24 | $10 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $29 | $54 | $81 | $45 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $24 | $20 | $20 | $24 | $12 |
Nightlife | $22 | $47 | $82 | $64 | $66 | $82 |
Gym | $9 | $65 | $44 | $69 | $56 | $23 |
Yoga | $23 | $65 | $142 | $65 | $82 | $62 |
Massage | $15 | $50 | $64 | $51 | $48 | $29 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés 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 | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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 | 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 | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, 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 | 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, menú del dÃa (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 | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |