Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Lviv vs Mexico City vs Panama City vs Seoul vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,830,000 15,520,000 731,387 8,850,000 880,691 9,963,452 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Turkish Ukrainian Spanish Spanish Korean Bulgarian
Level of English High Low Low Moderate Low Moderate High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October April - June, September and October May - September March - May, October, November December - April March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) KRW - South Korean won (₩) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $659 $922 $1867 $2359 $2184 $1289
Rent $615 $354 $400 $778 $1036 $797 $567
Groceries $114 $44 $91 $281 $236 $356 $10
Dining out $165 $81 $151 $182 $371 $211 $227
Cafe $38 $18 $21 $49 $43 $69 $27
Coworking space $133 $49 $79 $159 $157 $222 $140
Mobile internet $7 $3 $4 $25 $21 $40 $10
Public transportation $21 $6 $5 $11 $12 $40 $30
Taxis $9 $6 $12 $9 $48 $41 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $2 $16 $24 $0 $13 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $11 $13 $81 $35 $39 $18
Museums and sights $29 $15 $9 $20 $9 $6 $12
Nightlife $45 $22 $43 $64 $117 $93 $82
Gym $30 $9 $22 $69 $37 $69 $23
Yoga $59 $23 $30 $65 $163 $112 $62
Massage $31 $15 $27 $51 $75 $75 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar Telcel, Movistar Claro, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere Not customary or expected 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, Uklon Uber Uber, Tu Chofer Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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). Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 9 options on HappyCow 279 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow