Istanbul vs Lviv vs New York City vs Playa del Carmen vs Sofia vs Valencia

Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Lviv ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Valencia ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 15,520,000 731,387 8,323,340 259,453 1,270,169 834,000
Official language(s) Turkish Ukrainian English (de facto) Spanish Bulgarian Spanish, Valencian
Level of English Low Low Very high Moderate High Moderate
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Valencia Manises Airport (VLC)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October May - September April - June, September - November January - May, October - December April-June, September-October March - June, September, October
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (โ‚ด) USD - US Dollar ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $659 $922 $5431 $2143 $1289 $1976
Rent $354 $400 $2891 $923 $567 $869
Groceries $44 $91 $383 $127 $10 $146
Dining out $81 $151 $656 $207 $227 $292
Cafe $18 $21 $72 $42 $27 $42
Coworking space $49 $79 $326 $160 $140 $152
Mobile internet $3 $4 $45 $21 $10 $16
Public transportation $6 $5 $220 $17 $30 $38
Taxis $6 $12 $78 $9 $12 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $16 $30 $49 $40 $30
Sport and cultural events $11 $13 $100 $97 $18 $73
Museums and sights $15 $9 $74 $217 $12 $44
Nightlife $22 $43 $195 $77 $82 $66
Gym $9 $22 $55 $42 $23 $34
Yoga $23 $30 $197 $54 $62 $87
Massage $15 $27 $109 $101 $29 $45
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar AT&T, Verizon Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom Vodafone, Orange
Tipping Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10-15% for restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps BiTaksi Uber, Uklon Uber, Lyft N/A TaxiMe, TaxiStars Cabify, FreeNow
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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). American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices 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. Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats
Local food specialities Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Paella, fideuร , esgarrat, orxata, bunyols
Eat like a local Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches)
Vegetarian / vegan options 59 listings on Happy Cow 9 options on HappyCow 309 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 98 listings on Happy Cow