Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Porto ๐ต๐น
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Tbilisi ๐ฌ๐ช
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Population | 15,520,000 | 237,559 | 1,270,169 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Portuguese | Bulgarian | Georgian |
Level of English | Low | Very High | High | Low |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | May - September | April-June, September-October | March - June |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) | GEL - Georgian Lari (โพ) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1759 | $1289 | $1462 |
Rent | $354 | $717 | $567 | $752 |
Groceries | $44 | $148 | $10 | $112 |
Dining out | $81 | $280 | $227 | $169 |
Cafe | $18 | $45 | $27 | $45 |
Coworking space | $49 | $96 | $140 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $21 | $10 | $4 |
Public transportation | $6 | $95 | $30 | $8 |
Taxis | $6 | $25 | $12 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $10 | $40 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $45 | $18 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $24 | $12 | $9 |
Nightlife | $22 | $66 | $82 | $53 |
Gym | $9 | $56 | $23 | $33 |
Yoga | $23 | $82 | $62 | $37 |
Massage | $15 | $48 | $29 | $53 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafรฉs. |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | 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. | Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. |
Local food specialities | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | 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 | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli |
Eat like a local | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow |