Bangkok vs Buenos Aires vs Da Nang vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Da Nang 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 5,680,000 2,900,000 1,125,316 15,520,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai Spanish Vietnamese Turkish Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low High Low Low Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Da Nang International Airport (DAD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December September - December February - May April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in some places. Cash also needed. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1321 $959 $659 $2498 $1867 $1289
Rent $616 $844 $316 $354 $1174 $778 $567
Groceries $191 $98 $161 $44 $175 $281 $10
Dining out $168 $121 $128 $81 $313 $182 $227
Cafe $45 $25 $35 $18 $51 $49 $27
Coworking space $127 $95 $88 $49 $196 $159 $140
Mobile internet $23 $11 $4 $3 $10 $25 $10
Public transportation $32 $9 $15 $6 $78 $11 $30
Taxis $19 $9 $15 $6 $44 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $14 $0 $2 $49 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $46 $24 $6 $11 $54 $81 $18
Museums and sights $21 $4 $2 $15 $20 $20 $12
Nightlife $50 $23 $74 $22 $82 $64 $82
Gym $96 $14 $34 $9 $44 $69 $23
Yoga $98 $19 $71 $23 $142 $65 $62
Massage $11 $10 $10 $15 $64 $51 $29
SIM card options AIS Movistar, Claro, Personal Viettel, Vinafone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 5-15% in restaurants, round up at bars and cafes Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Grab Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options Healthy and with robust flavors, Vietnamese cuisine combines noodles and rice with a variety of greens and local herbs to compliment specially seasoned pork, beef or seafood dishes. In Da Nang, you'll find a strong emphasis on barbecued seafood dishes as well as fish-based sauces. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Chao Tom, Bahn Xeo, Goi Cuon, Bun Thit Nuong, Bahn Cuon, Mi Quang, Bun nam, Bun cha ca Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas Smaller, local restaurants, roadside eateries, street food stalls and local markets Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 107 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow