Hanoi ๐ป๐ณ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Tbilisi ๐ฌ๐ช
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Population | 8,053,663 | 15,520,000 | 880,691 | 1,270,169 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | Vietnamese | Turkish | Spanish | Bulgarian | Georgian |
Level of English | Moderate | Low | Low | High | Low |
Main airport | Nแปi Bร i International Airport (HAN) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | January, February, October - December | April - June, September and October | December - April | April-June, September-October | March - June |
Currency | VND - Vietnamese Dong (โซ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) | GEL - Georgian Lari (โพ) |
Credit cards | Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1167 | $659 | $2359 | $1289 | $1462 |
Rent | $503 | $354 | $1036 | $567 | $752 |
Groceries | $151 | $44 | $236 | $10 | $112 |
Dining out | $134 | $81 | $371 | $227 | $169 |
Cafe | $39 | $18 | $43 | $27 | $45 |
Coworking space | $72 | $49 | $157 | $140 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $4 | $3 | $21 | $10 | $4 |
Public transportation | $20 | $6 | $12 | $30 | $8 |
Taxis | $13 | $6 | $48 | $12 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $0 | $2 | $0 | $40 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $3 | $11 | $35 | $18 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $4 | $15 | $9 | $12 | $9 |
Nightlife | $89 | $22 | $117 | $82 | $53 |
Gym | $57 | $9 | $37 | $23 | $33 |
Yoga | $57 | $23 | $163 | $62 | $37 |
Massage | $21 | $15 | $75 | $29 | $53 |
SIM card options | Viettel, Mobifone | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Claro, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
Tipping | Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafรฉs. |
Taxi apps | Grab, GoViet | BiTaksi | Uber, Tu Chofer | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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 | 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. | Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. |
Local food specialities | Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli |
Eat like a local | Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 104 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow |