Barbados vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Medellin vs Mexico City vs Sofia vs Ubud

Barbados 🇧🇧
Remove
Bucharest 🇷🇴
Remove
Cape Town 🇿🇦
Remove
Lisbon 🇵🇹
Remove
Madrid 🇪🇸
Remove
Medellin 🇨🇴
Remove
Mexico City 🇲🇽
Remove
Sofia 🇧🇬
Remove
Ubud 🇮🇩
Remove
Population 110,000 1,830,000 4,617,560 517,000 6,578,0179 2,427,000 8,850,000 1,270,169 112,490
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Spanish Spanish Spanish Bulgarian Indonesian and Balinese
Level of English Very high High Very high Very high Moderate Low Moderate High Low
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPA)
Most common months to visit November - May April - October March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November January - April, December March - May, October, November April-June, September-October May - October
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) IDR - Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $2702 $1351 $1549 $1984 $2498 $1293 $1867 $1289 $1363
Rent $1054 $615 $618 $965 $1174 $732 $778 $567 $658
Groceries $234 $114 $129 $136 $175 $87 $281 $10 $150
Dining out $345 $165 $269 $271 $313 $131 $182 $227 $10
Cafe $75 $38 $32 $37 $51 $18 $49 $27 $28
Coworking space $321 $133 $151 $164 $196 $96 $159 $140 $106
Mobile internet $49 $7 $27 $24 $10 $16 $25 $10 $3
Public transportation $35 $21 $55 $63 $78 $21 $11 $30 $53
Taxis $106 $9 $21 $27 $44 $14 $9 $12 $13
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $25 $49 $18 $49 $0 $24 $40 $33
Sport and cultural events $37 $29 $19 $29 $54 $8 $81 $18 $14
Museums and sights $36 $29 $15 $24 $20 $9 $20 $12 $9
Nightlife $96 $45 $43 $47 $82 $73 $64 $82 $118
Gym $86 $30 $36 $65 $44 $15 $69 $23 $72
Yoga $130 $59 $56 $65 $142 $54 $65 $62 $87
Massage $99 $31 $30 $50 $64 $20 $51 $29 $10
SIM card options Digicel Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom Telkomsel, XL Axiata
Tipping 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 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 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés Tip 5 - 10% in restaurants if service charge is not included in the bill
Taxi apps None available Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now EasyTaxi Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars Grab, GoJek
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable 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. 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats 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. Balinese foods revolve on the complex flavors from certain ingredients like fresh vegetables, meat, coconut milk, and time-tested spices mixture.
Local food specialities Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Satay, nasi goreng, gado-gado, martabak, bubur sumsum
Eat like a local Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. Warung for authentic babi guling and bebek betutu, cafes for kopi luwak, street stalls for pisang goreng, nasi campur, and sate lilit
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 255 listings on Happy Cow