Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
|
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Population | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 880,691 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Greek | Spanish |
Level of English | Low | High | Low |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | December - April |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1959 | $2359 |
Rent | $354 | $678 | $1036 |
Groceries | $44 | $157 | $236 |
Dining out | $81 | $261 | $371 |
Cafe | $18 | $56 | $43 |
Coworking space | $49 | $209 | $157 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $35 | $21 |
Public transportation | $6 | $63 | $12 |
Taxis | $6 | $42 | $48 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $45 | $0 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $28 | $35 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $9 |
Nightlife | $22 | $110 | $117 |
Gym | $9 | $107 | $37 |
Yoga | $23 | $105 | $163 |
Massage | $15 | $54 | $75 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Claro, Movistar |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, Tu Chofer |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | 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. |
Local food specialities | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja |
Eat like a local | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 7 options on HappyCow |