|
Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
Porto ๐ต๐น
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
| Population | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 237,559 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Turkish | Spanish | Portuguese | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Low | Moderate | Very High | High |
| Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | May - September | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $659 | $2498 | $1759 | $1289 |
| Rent | $354 | $1174 | $717 | $567 |
| Groceries | $44 | $175 | $148 | $10 |
| Dining out | $81 | $313 | $280 | $227 |
| Cafe | $18 | $51 | $45 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $49 | $196 | $96 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $3 | $10 | $21 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $6 | $78 | $95 | $30 |
| Taxis | $6 | $44 | $25 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $49 | $10 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $11 | $54 | $45 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $20 | $24 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $22 | $82 | $66 | $82 |
| Gym | $9 | $44 | $56 | $23 |
| Yoga | $23 | $142 | $82 | $62 |
| Massage | $15 | $64 | $48 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 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, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | 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 | 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 | 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 | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |