Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population | 15,520,000 | 2,427,000 | 8,850,000 | 259,453 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | January - April, December | March - May, October, November | January - May, October - December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted in some places | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1293 | $1867 | $2143 | $1289 |
Rent | $354 | $732 | $778 | $923 | $567 |
Groceries | $44 | $87 | $281 | $127 | $10 |
Dining out | $81 | $131 | $182 | $207 | $227 |
Cafe | $18 | $18 | $49 | $42 | $27 |
Coworking space | $49 | $96 | $159 | $160 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $16 | $25 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $6 | $21 | $11 | $17 | $30 |
Taxis | $6 | $14 | $9 | $9 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $0 | $24 | $49 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $8 | $81 | $97 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $9 | $20 | $217 | $12 |
Nightlife | $22 | $73 | $64 | $77 | $82 |
Gym | $9 | $15 | $69 | $42 | $23 |
Yoga | $23 | $54 | $65 | $54 | $62 |
Massage | $15 | $20 | $51 | $101 | $29 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Claro, Tigo | Telcel, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | EasyTaxi | Uber | N/A | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | 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. |
Local food specialities | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | 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 | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Markets, food stalls, menú del dÃa (cheap set lunch menus) | 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. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |