Barbados vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Barbados 🇧🇧
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 110,000 10,978,360 1,830,000 15,520,000 144,900 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Romanian Turkish Greek Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low High Low High Moderate High
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit November - May January - March, December April - October April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2702 $1097 $1351 $659 $1959 $1867 $1289
Rent $1054 $480 $615 $354 $678 $778 $567
Groceries $234 $82 $114 $44 $157 $281 $10
Dining out $345 $174 $165 $81 $261 $182 $227
Cafe $75 $22 $38 $18 $56 $49 $27
Coworking space $321 $77 $133 $49 $209 $159 $140
Mobile internet $49 $11 $7 $3 $35 $25 $10
Public transportation $35 $23 $21 $6 $63 $11 $30
Taxis $106 $28 $9 $6 $42 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $17 $25 $2 $45 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $37 $22 $29 $11 $28 $81 $18
Museums and sights $36 $7 $29 $15 $8 $20 $12
Nightlife $96 $46 $45 $22 $110 $64 $82
Gym $86 $15 $30 $9 $107 $69 $23
Yoga $130 $57 $59 $23 $105 $65 $62
Massage $99 $37 $31 $15 $54 $51 $29
SIM card options Digicel Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps None available Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi nTaxi Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas 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 Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow