Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
Valencia ๐ช๐ธ
|
|
Population | 15,520,000 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Korean | Bulgarian | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | Low | Moderate | High | Moderate |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October | March - June, September, October |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $2184 | $1289 | $1976 |
Rent | $354 | $797 | $567 | $869 |
Groceries | $44 | $356 | $10 | $146 |
Dining out | $81 | $211 | $227 | $292 |
Cafe | $18 | $69 | $27 | $42 |
Coworking space | $49 | $222 | $140 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $40 | $10 | $16 |
Public transportation | $6 | $40 | $30 | $38 |
Taxis | $6 | $41 | $12 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $13 | $40 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $39 | $18 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $6 | $12 | $44 |
Nightlife | $22 | $93 | $82 | $66 |
Gym | $9 | $69 | $23 | $34 |
Yoga | $23 | $112 | $62 | $87 |
Massage | $15 | $75 | $29 | $45 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Vodafone, Orange |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | Not customary or expected | 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, Kakao | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. | 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 | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | 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 | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | 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 | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |