Barbados vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Panama City vs Sofia

Barbados ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง
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Buenos Aires ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Panama City ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 110,000 2,900,000 4,617,560 1,166,978 880,691 1,270,169
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Very high Low Low High
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit November - May September - December March - May, September - November November - April December - April April-June, September-October
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2702 $1321 $1549 $974 $2359 $1289
Rent $1054 $844 $618 $274 $1036 $567
Groceries $234 $98 $129 $169 $236 $10
Dining out $345 $121 $269 $108 $371 $227
Cafe $75 $25 $32 $45 $43 $27
Coworking space $321 $95 $151 $95 $157 $140
Mobile internet $49 $11 $27 $11 $21 $10
Public transportation $35 $9 $55 $60 $12 $30
Taxis $106 $9 $21 $20 $48 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $14 $49 $10 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $37 $24 $19 $8 $35 $18
Museums and sights $36 $4 $15 $8 $9 $12
Nightlife $96 $23 $43 $62 $117 $82
Gym $86 $14 $36 $41 $37 $23
Yoga $130 $19 $56 $55 $163 $62
Massage $99 $10 $30 $10 $75 $29
SIM card options Digicel Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Claro, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 10% at restaurants and cafรฉs is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps None available Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt Grab Uber, Tu Chofer TaxiMe, TaxiStars
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. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. 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. Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. 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 Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja 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 restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafรฉs for matรฉ and facturas Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 7 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow