Barbados vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul

Barbados 🇧🇧
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 110,000 10,978,360 1,830,000 4,617,560 15,520,000
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish
Level of English Very high Low High Very high Low
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit November - May January - March, December April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September and October
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $2702 $1097 $1351 $1549 $659
Rent $1054 $480 $615 $618 $354
Groceries $234 $82 $114 $129 $44
Dining out $345 $174 $165 $269 $81
Cafe $75 $22 $38 $32 $18
Coworking space $321 $77 $133 $151 $49
Mobile internet $49 $11 $7 $27 $3
Public transportation $35 $23 $21 $55 $6
Taxis $106 $28 $9 $21 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $17 $25 $49 $2
Sport and cultural events $37 $22 $29 $19 $11
Museums and sights $36 $7 $29 $15 $15
Nightlife $96 $46 $45 $43 $22
Gym $86 $15 $30 $36 $9
Yoga $130 $57 $59 $56 $23
Massage $99 $37 $31 $30 $15
SIM card options Digicel Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom 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 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps None available Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt 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. 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 sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. 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 Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow 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 Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets 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 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow