Barbados vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Medellin

Barbados 🇧🇧
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Population 110,000 1,830,000 1,166,978 8,053,663 15,520,000 2,427,000
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Romanian Thai Vietnamese Turkish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate Low Low
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE)
Most common months to visit November - May April - October November - April January, February, October - December April - June, September and October January - April, December
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (฿) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No No
Average monthly costs $2702 $1351 $974 $1167 $659 $1293
Rent $1054 $615 $274 $503 $354 $732
Groceries $234 $114 $169 $151 $44 $87
Dining out $345 $165 $108 $134 $81 $131
Cafe $75 $38 $45 $39 $18 $18
Coworking space $321 $133 $95 $72 $49 $96
Mobile internet $49 $7 $11 $4 $3 $16
Public transportation $35 $21 $60 $20 $6 $21
Taxis $106 $9 $20 $13 $6 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $25 $10 $0 $2 $0
Sport and cultural events $37 $29 $8 $3 $11 $8
Museums and sights $36 $29 $8 $4 $15 $9
Nightlife $96 $45 $62 $89 $22 $73
Gym $86 $30 $41 $57 $9 $15
Yoga $130 $59 $55 $57 $23 $54
Massage $99 $31 $10 $21 $15 $20
SIM card options Digicel Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo
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% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants
Taxi apps None available Star Taxi, Uber Grab Grab, GoViet BiTaksi EasyTaxi
Tap water 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. 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 mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats
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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa
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 Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow