Istanbul vs Lviv vs Madrid vs Porto vs Sofia

Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
Remove
Lviv ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
Remove
Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
Remove
Porto ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
Remove
Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
Remove
Population 15,520,000 731,387 6,578,0179 237,559 1,270,169
Official language(s) Turkish Ukrainian Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Low Low Moderate Very High High
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October May - September March - May, September - November May - September April-June, September-October
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (โ‚ด) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $659 $922 $2498 $1759 $1289
Rent $354 $400 $1174 $717 $567
Groceries $44 $91 $175 $148 $10
Dining out $81 $151 $313 $280 $227
Cafe $18 $21 $51 $45 $27
Coworking space $49 $79 $196 $96 $140
Mobile internet $3 $4 $10 $21 $10
Public transportation $6 $5 $78 $95 $30
Taxis $6 $12 $44 $25 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $16 $49 $10 $40
Sport and cultural events $11 $13 $54 $45 $18
Museums and sights $15 $9 $20 $24 $12
Nightlife $22 $43 $82 $66 $82
Gym $9 $22 $44 $56 $23
Yoga $23 $30 $142 $82 $62
Massage $15 $27 $64 $48 $29
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Vodafone, MEO, NOS A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 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 BiTaksi Uber, Uklon Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. 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 Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros 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 Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries 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! 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 9 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow