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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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| Population | 15,520,000 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Turkish | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Low | High |
| Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No |
| Average monthly costs | $659 | $1289 |
| Rent | $354 | $567 |
| Groceries | $44 | $10 |
| Dining out | $81 | $227 |
| Cafe | $18 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $49 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $3 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $6 | $30 |
| Taxis | $6 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $11 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $22 | $82 |
| Gym | $9 | $23 |
| Yoga | $23 | $62 |
| Massage | $15 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
| Taxi apps | BiTaksi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | 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 | 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 | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |