Berlin vs Istanbul vs New York City vs Panama City vs Sofia

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 15,520,000 8,323,340 880,691 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Turkish English (de facto) Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low Very high Low High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Istanbul Airport (IST) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September April - June, September and October April - June, September - November December - April April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) USD - US Dollar ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2200 $659 $5431 $2359 $1289
Rent $939 $354 $2891 $1036 $567
Groceries $188 $44 $383 $236 $10
Dining out $271 $81 $656 $371 $227
Cafe $57 $18 $72 $43 $27
Coworking space $174 $49 $326 $157 $140
Mobile internet $23 $3 $45 $21 $10
Public transportation $88 $6 $220 $12 $30
Taxis $58 $6 $78 $48 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $2 $30 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $11 $100 $35 $18
Museums and sights $37 $15 $74 $9 $12
Nightlife $63 $22 $195 $117 $82
Gym $66 $9 $55 $37 $23
Yoga $99 $23 $197 $163 $62
Massage $56 $15 $109 $75 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Turkcell, Turk Telekom AT&T, Verizon Claro, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, Lyft Uber, Tu Chofer TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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. 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 Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels 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 Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops 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 Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 7 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow