Barbados vs Berlin vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs New York City

Barbados ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง
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Berlin ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 110,000 3,400,000 4,617,560 517,000 6,578,0179 8,323,340
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole German Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English Very high Very high Very high Very high Moderate Very high
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit November - May May - September March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November April - June, September - November
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $2702 $2200 $1549 $1984 $2498 $5431
Rent $1054 $939 $618 $965 $1174 $2891
Groceries $234 $188 $129 $136 $175 $383
Dining out $345 $271 $269 $271 $313 $656
Cafe $75 $57 $32 $37 $51 $72
Coworking space $321 $174 $151 $164 $196 $326
Mobile internet $49 $23 $27 $24 $10 $45
Public transportation $35 $88 $55 $63 $78 $220
Taxis $106 $58 $21 $27 $44 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $17 $49 $18 $49 $30
Sport and cultural events $37 $64 $19 $29 $54 $100
Museums and sights $36 $37 $15 $24 $20 $74
Nightlife $96 $63 $43 $47 $82 $195
Gym $86 $66 $36 $65 $44 $55
Yoga $130 $99 $56 $65 $142 $197
Massage $99 $56 $30 $50 $64 $109
SIM card options Digicel Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps None available Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Lyft
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Bajan cuisine features an eclectic mix of European, Asian, and Caribbean styles resulting in bold, tasty and crunchy meat or fish dishes with lots of spices, lime juice, thyme and salads laden with local vegetables and hot side dishes. Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
Local food specialities Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Currywurst, spรคtzle, kรถnigsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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! Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow