Bangkok vs Buenos Aires vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Lviv vs Medellin vs Panama City

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Population 5,680,000 2,900,000 8,053,663 15,520,000 731,387 2,427,000 880,691
Official language(s) Thai Spanish Vietnamese Turkish Ukrainian Spanish Spanish
Level of English Low High Moderate Low Low Low Low
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December September - December January, February, October - December April - June, September and October May - September January - April, December December - April
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) COP - Colombian Peso ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops.
Remote worker visa No No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1560 $1321 $1167 $659 $922 $1293 $2359
Rent $616 $844 $503 $354 $400 $732 $1036
Groceries $191 $98 $151 $44 $91 $87 $236
Dining out $168 $121 $134 $81 $151 $131 $371
Cafe $45 $25 $39 $18 $21 $18 $43
Coworking space $127 $95 $72 $49 $79 $96 $157
Mobile internet $23 $11 $4 $3 $4 $16 $21
Public transportation $32 $9 $20 $6 $5 $21 $12
Taxis $19 $9 $13 $6 $12 $14 $48
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $14 $0 $2 $16 $0 $0
Sport and cultural events $46 $24 $3 $11 $13 $8 $35
Museums and sights $21 $4 $4 $15 $9 $9 $9
Nightlife $50 $23 $89 $22 $43 $73 $117
Gym $96 $14 $57 $9 $22 $15 $37
Yoga $98 $19 $57 $23 $30 $54 $163
Massage $11 $10 $21 $15 $27 $20 $75
SIM card options AIS Movistar, Claro, Personal Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar Claro, Tigo Claro, Movistar
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere Tip 10% in restaurants 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Grab Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, Uklon EasyTaxi Uber, Tu Chofer
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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 A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats 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 Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja
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 Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 9 options on HappyCow 153 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow