Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Panama City vs Sofia

Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 8,053,663 15,520,000 517,000 880,691 1,270,169
Official language(s) Vietnamese Turkish Portuguese Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Moderate Low Very high Low High
Main airport Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, September, October December - April April-June, September-October
Currency VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1167 $659 $1984 $2359 $1289
Rent $503 $354 $965 $1036 $567
Groceries $151 $44 $136 $236 $10
Dining out $134 $81 $271 $371 $227
Cafe $39 $18 $37 $43 $27
Coworking space $72 $49 $164 $157 $140
Mobile internet $4 $3 $24 $21 $10
Public transportation $20 $6 $63 $12 $30
Taxis $13 $6 $27 $48 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $2 $18 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $3 $11 $29 $35 $18
Museums and sights $4 $15 $24 $9 $12
Nightlife $89 $22 $47 $117 $82
Gym $57 $9 $65 $37 $23
Yoga $57 $23 $65 $163 $62
Massage $21 $15 $50 $75 $29
SIM card options Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Claro, Movistar 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 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Tu Chofer TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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 Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries 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. 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 Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks 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 401 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow