Bangkok vs Barbados vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Istanbul vs New York City vs Panama City

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Barbados 🇧🇧
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Population 5,680,000 110,000 10,978,360 1,830,000 15,520,000 8,323,340 880,691
Official language(s) Thai English, Bajan Creole Spanish Romanian Turkish English (de facto) Spanish
Level of English Low Very high Low High Low Very high Low
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December November - May January - March, December April - October April - June, September and October April - June, September - November December - April
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) USD - US Dollar ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops.
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1560 $2702 $1097 $1351 $659 $5431 $2359
Rent $616 $1054 $480 $615 $354 $2891 $1036
Groceries $191 $234 $82 $114 $44 $383 $236
Dining out $168 $345 $174 $165 $81 $656 $371
Cafe $45 $75 $22 $38 $18 $72 $43
Coworking space $127 $321 $77 $133 $49 $326 $157
Mobile internet $23 $49 $11 $7 $3 $45 $21
Public transportation $32 $35 $23 $21 $6 $220 $12
Taxis $19 $106 $28 $9 $6 $78 $48
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $0 $17 $25 $2 $30 $0
Sport and cultural events $46 $37 $22 $29 $11 $100 $35
Museums and sights $21 $36 $7 $29 $15 $74 $9
Nightlife $50 $96 $46 $45 $22 $195 $117
Gym $96 $86 $15 $30 $9 $55 $37
Yoga $98 $130 $57 $59 $23 $197 $163
Massage $11 $99 $37 $31 $15 $109 $75
SIM card options AIS Digicel Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom AT&T, Verizon Claro, Movistar
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Grab None available Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, Lyft Uber, Tu Chofer
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Bajan cuisine features an eclectic mix of European, Asian, and Caribbean styles resulting in bold, tasty and crunchy meat or fish dishes with lots of spices, lime juice, thyme and salads laden with local vegetables and hot side dishes. Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine.
Local food specialities Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 7 options on HappyCow