Bangkok vs Buenos Aires vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Panama City vs Sofia

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 5,680,000 2,900,000 8,053,663 15,520,000 880,691 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai Spanish Vietnamese Turkish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low High Moderate Low Low High
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December September - December January, February, October - December April - June, September and October December - April April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1321 $1167 $659 $2359 $1289
Rent $616 $844 $503 $354 $1036 $567
Groceries $191 $98 $151 $44 $236 $10
Dining out $168 $121 $134 $81 $371 $227
Cafe $45 $25 $39 $18 $43 $27
Coworking space $127 $95 $72 $49 $157 $140
Mobile internet $23 $11 $4 $3 $21 $10
Public transportation $32 $9 $20 $6 $12 $30
Taxis $19 $9 $13 $6 $48 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $14 $0 $2 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $46 $24 $3 $11 $35 $18
Museums and sights $21 $4 $4 $15 $9 $12
Nightlife $50 $23 $89 $22 $117 $82
Gym $96 $14 $57 $9 $37 $23
Yoga $98 $19 $57 $23 $163 $62
Massage $11 $10 $21 $15 $75 $29
SIM card options AIS Movistar, Claro, Personal Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
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, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Grab Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, Tu Chofer TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water 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 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 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 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 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 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 79 options on Happy Cow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow