Barbados vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Sofia

Barbados 🇧🇧
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 110,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Hungarian Turkish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Low High
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit November - May March - June, September - November April - June, September and October April-June, September-October
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $2702 $1230 $659 $1289
Rent $1054 $499 $354 $567
Groceries $234 $108 $44 $10
Dining out $345 $202 $81 $227
Cafe $75 $29 $18 $27
Coworking space $321 $120 $49 $140
Mobile internet $49 $9 $3 $10
Public transportation $35 $36 $6 $30
Taxis $106 $27 $6 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $13 $2 $40
Sport and cultural events $37 $24 $11 $18
Museums and sights $36 $7 $15 $12
Nightlife $96 $43 $22 $82
Gym $86 $37 $9 $23
Yoga $130 $48 $23 $62
Massage $99 $26 $15 $29
SIM card options Digicel Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps None available Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable 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. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish 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 Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight 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 markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow