Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Panama City vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 2,900,000 15,520,000 880,691 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) Spanish Turkish Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English High Low Low Low High
Main airport Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Galeão International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit September - December April - June, September and October December - April January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1321 $659 $2359 $1833 $1289
Rent $844 $354 $1036 $1066 $567
Groceries $98 $44 $236 $95 $10
Dining out $121 $81 $371 $210 $227
Cafe $25 $18 $43 $25 $27
Coworking space $95 $49 $157 $130 $140
Mobile internet $11 $3 $21 $7 $10
Public transportation $9 $6 $12 $33 $30
Taxis $9 $6 $48 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $14 $2 $0 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $24 $11 $35 $55 $18
Museums and sights $4 $15 $9 $26 $12
Nightlife $23 $22 $117 $54 $82
Gym $14 $9 $37 $31 $23
Yoga $19 $23 $163 $40 $62
Massage $10 $15 $75 $32 $29
SIM card options Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi Uber, Tu Chofer Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall 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 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, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. 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 Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local 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 Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow