Istanbul vs Madrid vs Panama City vs Sofia

Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Panama City ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 15,520,000 6,578,0179 880,691 1,270,169
Official language(s) Turkish Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low Moderate Low High
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, September - November December - April April-June, September-October
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $659 $2498 $2359 $1289
Rent $354 $1174 $1036 $567
Groceries $44 $175 $236 $10
Dining out $81 $313 $371 $227
Cafe $18 $51 $43 $27
Coworking space $49 $196 $157 $140
Mobile internet $3 $10 $21 $10
Public transportation $6 $78 $12 $30
Taxis $6 $44 $48 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $49 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $11 $54 $35 $18
Museums and sights $15 $20 $9 $12
Nightlife $22 $82 $117 $82
Gym $9 $44 $37 $23
Yoga $23 $142 $163 $62
Massage $15 $64 $75 $29
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Claro, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Tu Chofer TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. 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 Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! 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 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow