Barbados vs Bogota vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Barbados 🇧🇧
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 110,000 10,978,360 15,520,000 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Turkish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high Low Low Moderate High
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit November - May January - March, December April - June, September and October March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2702 $1097 $659 $1867 $1289
Rent $1054 $480 $354 $778 $567
Groceries $234 $82 $44 $281 $10
Dining out $345 $174 $81 $182 $227
Cafe $75 $22 $18 $49 $27
Coworking space $321 $77 $49 $159 $140
Mobile internet $49 $11 $3 $25 $10
Public transportation $35 $23 $6 $11 $30
Taxis $106 $28 $6 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $17 $2 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $37 $22 $11 $81 $18
Museums and sights $36 $7 $15 $20 $12
Nightlife $96 $46 $22 $64 $82
Gym $86 $15 $9 $69 $23
Yoga $130 $57 $23 $65 $62
Massage $99 $37 $15 $51 $29
SIM card options Digicel Tigo, Movistar, Claro Turkcell, Turk Telekom 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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps None available Uber, Cabify BiTaksi Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight 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. Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow