Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen vs Seoul vs Sofia

Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 8,053,663 15,520,000 2,427,000 8,850,000 259,453 9,963,452 1,270,169
Official language(s) Vietnamese Turkish Spanish Spanish Spanish Korean Bulgarian
Level of English Moderate Low Low Moderate Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January, February, October - December April - June, September and October January - April, December March - May, October, November January - May, October - December March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1167 $659 $1293 $1867 $2143 $2184 $1289
Rent $503 $354 $732 $778 $923 $797 $567
Groceries $151 $44 $87 $281 $127 $356 $10
Dining out $134 $81 $131 $182 $207 $211 $227
Cafe $39 $18 $18 $49 $42 $69 $27
Coworking space $72 $49 $96 $159 $160 $222 $140
Mobile internet $4 $3 $16 $25 $21 $40 $10
Public transportation $20 $6 $21 $11 $17 $40 $30
Taxis $13 $6 $14 $9 $9 $41 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $2 $0 $24 $49 $13 $40
Sport and cultural events $3 $11 $8 $81 $97 $39 $18
Museums and sights $4 $15 $9 $20 $217 $6 $12
Nightlife $89 $22 $73 $64 $77 $93 $82
Gym $57 $9 $15 $69 $42 $69 $23
Yoga $57 $23 $54 $65 $54 $112 $62
Massage $21 $15 $20 $51 $101 $75 $29
SIM card options Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants Not customary or expected 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Grab, GoViet BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber N/A Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's 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 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow