Bangkok vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Lviv vs Medellin vs Panama City vs Sofia

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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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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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 5,680,000 8,053,663 15,520,000 731,387 2,427,000 880,691 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai Vietnamese Turkish Ukrainian Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low Moderate Low Low Low Low High
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December January, February, October - December April - June, September and October May - September January - April, December December - April April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) COP - Colombian Peso ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere 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. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1167 $659 $922 $1293 $2359 $1289
Rent $616 $503 $354 $400 $732 $1036 $567
Groceries $191 $151 $44 $91 $87 $236 $10
Dining out $168 $134 $81 $151 $131 $371 $227
Cafe $45 $39 $18 $21 $18 $43 $27
Coworking space $127 $72 $49 $79 $96 $157 $140
Mobile internet $23 $4 $3 $4 $16 $21 $10
Public transportation $32 $20 $6 $5 $21 $12 $30
Taxis $19 $13 $6 $12 $14 $48 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $0 $2 $16 $0 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $46 $3 $11 $13 $8 $35 $18
Museums and sights $21 $4 $15 $9 $9 $9 $12
Nightlife $50 $89 $22 $43 $73 $117 $82
Gym $96 $57 $9 $22 $15 $37 $23
Yoga $98 $57 $23 $30 $54 $163 $62
Massage $11 $21 $15 $27 $20 $75 $29
SIM card options AIS Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar Claro, Tigo Claro, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 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 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Grab Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, Uklon EasyTaxi Uber, Tu Chofer TaxiMe, TaxiStars
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 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. 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 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 Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants 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 Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings 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 20 options on HappyCow