Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Panama City vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,830,000 2,900,000 15,520,000 6,578,0179 880,691 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Spanish Turkish Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English High High Low Moderate Low High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October September - December April - June, September and October March - May, September - November December - April April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1321 $659 $2498 $2359 $1289
Rent $615 $844 $354 $1174 $1036 $567
Groceries $114 $98 $44 $175 $236 $10
Dining out $165 $121 $81 $313 $371 $227
Cafe $38 $25 $18 $51 $43 $27
Coworking space $133 $95 $49 $196 $157 $140
Mobile internet $7 $11 $3 $10 $21 $10
Public transportation $21 $9 $6 $78 $12 $30
Taxis $9 $9 $6 $44 $48 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $14 $2 $49 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $11 $54 $35 $18
Museums and sights $29 $4 $15 $20 $9 $12
Nightlife $45 $23 $22 $82 $117 $82
Gym $30 $14 $9 $44 $37 $23
Yoga $59 $19 $23 $142 $163 $62
Massage $31 $10 $15 $64 $75 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Claro, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Tu Chofer TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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. 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 Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros 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 Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas 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! 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 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow