Barbados vs Berlin vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Sofia

Barbados 🇧🇧
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 110,000 3,400,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 517,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole German Thai Turkish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Very high Low Low Very high High
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Berlin Tegel (TXL) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit November - May May - September November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September, October April-June, September-October
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes Yes No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2702 $2200 $974 $659 $1984 $1289
Rent $1054 $939 $274 $354 $965 $567
Groceries $234 $188 $169 $44 $136 $10
Dining out $345 $271 $108 $81 $271 $227
Cafe $75 $57 $45 $18 $37 $27
Coworking space $321 $174 $95 $49 $164 $140
Mobile internet $49 $23 $11 $3 $24 $10
Public transportation $35 $88 $60 $6 $63 $30
Taxis $106 $58 $20 $6 $27 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $17 $10 $2 $18 $40
Sport and cultural events $37 $64 $8 $11 $29 $18
Museums and sights $36 $37 $8 $15 $24 $12
Nightlife $96 $63 $62 $22 $47 $82
Gym $86 $66 $41 $9 $65 $23
Yoga $130 $99 $55 $23 $65 $62
Massage $99 $56 $10 $15 $50 $29
SIM card options Digicel Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps None available Mytaxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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 Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries 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 Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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 Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow