Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
|
Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 15,520,000 | 880,691 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Spanish | Korean | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Low | Low | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | December - April | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $2359 | $2184 | $1289 |
Rent | $354 | $1036 | $797 | $567 |
Groceries | $44 | $236 | $356 | $10 |
Dining out | $81 | $371 | $211 | $227 |
Cafe | $18 | $43 | $69 | $27 |
Coworking space | $49 | $157 | $222 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $21 | $40 | $10 |
Public transportation | $6 | $12 | $40 | $30 |
Taxis | $6 | $48 | $41 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $0 | $13 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $35 | $39 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $9 | $6 | $12 |
Nightlife | $22 | $117 | $93 | $82 |
Gym | $9 | $37 | $69 | $23 |
Yoga | $23 | $163 | $112 | $62 |
Massage | $15 | $75 | $75 | $29 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Claro, Movistar | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not customary or expected | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | Uber, Tu Chofer | Uber, Kakao | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | 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. | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. | 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 | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | 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 | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |