|
Lisbon ๐ต๐น
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
| Population | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Main airport | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1984 | $2498 | $1867 | $1289 |
| Rent | $965 | $1174 | $778 | $567 |
| Groceries | $136 | $175 | $281 | $10 |
| Dining out | $271 | $313 | $182 | $227 |
| Cafe | $37 | $51 | $49 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $164 | $196 | $159 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $24 | $10 | $25 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $63 | $78 | $11 | $30 |
| Taxis | $27 | $44 | $9 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $18 | $49 | $24 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $29 | $54 | $81 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $24 | $20 | $20 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $47 | $82 | $64 | $82 |
| Gym | $65 | $44 | $69 | $23 |
| Yoga | $65 | $142 | $65 | $62 |
| Massage | $50 | $64 | $51 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | 5-10% for restaurants, not common 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 | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | 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 | 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 | 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 | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
| Eat like a local | 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) | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |