Buenos Aires vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs New York City vs Panama City vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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New York City 🇺🇸
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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 8,053,663 15,520,000 8,323,340 880,691 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) Spanish Vietnamese Turkish English (de facto) Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English High Moderate Low Very high Low Low High
Main airport Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Galeão International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit September - December January, February, October - December April - June, September and October April - June, September - November December - April January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency ARS - Argentine Peso ($) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) USD - US Dollar ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $1321 $1167 $659 $5431 $2359 $1833 $1289
Rent $844 $503 $354 $2891 $1036 $1066 $567
Groceries $98 $151 $44 $383 $236 $95 $10
Dining out $121 $134 $81 $656 $371 $210 $227
Cafe $25 $39 $18 $72 $43 $25 $27
Coworking space $95 $72 $49 $326 $157 $130 $140
Mobile internet $11 $4 $3 $45 $21 $7 $10
Public transportation $9 $20 $6 $220 $12 $33 $30
Taxis $9 $13 $6 $78 $48 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $14 $0 $2 $30 $0 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $24 $3 $11 $100 $35 $55 $18
Museums and sights $4 $4 $15 $74 $9 $26 $12
Nightlife $23 $89 $22 $195 $117 $54 $82
Gym $14 $57 $9 $55 $37 $31 $23
Yoga $19 $57 $23 $197 $163 $40 $62
Massage $10 $21 $15 $109 $75 $32 $29
SIM card options Movistar, Claro, Personal Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom AT&T, Verizon Claro, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at 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) Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, Lyft Uber, Tu Chofer Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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 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, 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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight 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 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 Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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 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 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 7 options on HappyCow 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow