Barbados vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul

Barbados 🇧🇧
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 110,000 10,978,360 1,830,000 1,166,978 15,520,000
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Romanian Thai Turkish
Level of English Very high Low High Low Low
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit November - May January - March, December April - October November - April April - June, September and October
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $2702 $1097 $1351 $974 $659
Rent $1054 $480 $615 $274 $354
Groceries $234 $82 $114 $169 $44
Dining out $345 $174 $165 $108 $81
Cafe $75 $22 $38 $45 $18
Coworking space $321 $77 $133 $95 $49
Mobile internet $49 $11 $7 $11 $3
Public transportation $35 $23 $21 $60 $6
Taxis $106 $28 $9 $20 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $17 $25 $10 $2
Sport and cultural events $37 $22 $29 $8 $11
Museums and sights $36 $7 $29 $8 $15
Nightlife $96 $46 $45 $62 $22
Gym $86 $15 $30 $41 $9
Yoga $130 $57 $59 $55 $23
Massage $99 $37 $31 $10 $15
SIM card options Digicel Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom
Tipping 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps None available Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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
Local food specialities Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight
Eat like a local Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow