Lisbon vs Madrid vs Porto vs Sofia

Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Porto ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 517,000 6,578,0179 237,559 1,270,169
Official language(s) Portuguese Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Moderate Very High High
Main airport Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September, October March - May, September - November May - September April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1984 $2498 $1759 $1289
Rent $965 $1174 $717 $567
Groceries $136 $175 $148 $10
Dining out $271 $313 $280 $227
Cafe $37 $51 $45 $27
Coworking space $164 $196 $96 $140
Mobile internet $24 $10 $21 $10
Public transportation $63 $78 $95 $30
Taxis $27 $44 $25 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $18 $49 $10 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $54 $45 $18
Museums and sights $24 $20 $24 $12
Nightlife $47 $82 $66 $82
Gym $65 $44 $56 $23
Yoga $65 $142 $82 $62
Massage $50 $64 $48 $29
SIM card options Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Vodafone, MEO, NOS A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 5-10% for restaurants, not common at 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 Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable 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. 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 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 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 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! 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 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow