Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs New York City vs Panama City vs Seoul vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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New York 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 8,850,000 8,323,340 880,691 9,963,452 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Turkish Spanish English (de facto) Spanish Korean Bulgarian
Level of English High Low Moderate Very high Low Moderate High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October April - June, September and October March - May, October, November April - June, September - November December - April March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) KRW - South Korean won (₩) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $659 $1867 $5431 $2359 $2184 $1289
Rent $615 $354 $778 $2891 $1036 $797 $567
Groceries $114 $44 $281 $383 $236 $356 $10
Dining out $165 $81 $182 $656 $371 $211 $227
Cafe $38 $18 $49 $72 $43 $69 $27
Coworking space $133 $49 $159 $326 $157 $222 $140
Mobile internet $7 $3 $25 $45 $21 $40 $10
Public transportation $21 $6 $11 $220 $12 $40 $30
Taxis $9 $6 $9 $78 $48 $41 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $2 $24 $30 $0 $13 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $11 $81 $100 $35 $39 $18
Museums and sights $29 $15 $20 $74 $9 $6 $12
Nightlife $45 $22 $64 $195 $117 $93 $82
Gym $30 $9 $69 $55 $37 $69 $23
Yoga $59 $23 $65 $197 $163 $112 $62
Massage $31 $15 $51 $109 $75 $75 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar AT&T, Verizon 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 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 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 Uber, Lyft Uber, Tu Chofer Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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. 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas 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 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 Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) 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 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 279 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 7 options on HappyCow 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow