Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Porto vs Sofia vs Tbilisi

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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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Population 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 237,559 1,270,169 1,108,700
Official language(s) Turkish Portuguese Spanish Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian Georgian
Level of English Low Very high Moderate Moderate Very High High Low
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) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
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 March - June
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) GEL - Georgian Lari (₾)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $659 $1984 $2498 $1867 $1759 $1289 $1462
Rent $354 $965 $1174 $778 $717 $567 $752
Groceries $44 $136 $175 $281 $148 $10 $112
Dining out $81 $271 $313 $182 $280 $227 $169
Cafe $18 $37 $51 $49 $45 $27 $45
Coworking space $49 $164 $196 $159 $96 $140 $125
Mobile internet $3 $24 $10 $25 $21 $10 $4
Public transportation $6 $63 $78 $11 $95 $30 $8
Taxis $6 $27 $44 $9 $25 $12 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $18 $49 $24 $10 $40 $27
Sport and cultural events $11 $29 $54 $81 $45 $18 $21
Museums and sights $15 $24 $20 $20 $24 $12 $9
Nightlife $22 $47 $82 $64 $66 $82 $53
Gym $9 $65 $44 $69 $56 $23 $33
Yoga $23 $65 $142 $65 $82 $62 $37
Massage $15 $50 $64 $51 $48 $29 $53
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS A1, Telenor, Vivacom Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline
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 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés.
Taxi apps BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars Yandex, Bolt
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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. Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams.
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 Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli
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 día (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. Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars
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 10 options on Happy Cow