Barbados vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Playa del Carmen vs Sofia

Barbados 🇧🇧
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 110,000 2,900,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 517,000 259,453 1,270,169
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Portuguese Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Very high Low Very high Moderate High
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit November - May September - December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October January - May, October - December April-June, September-October
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
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 in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $2702 $1321 $1549 $659 $1984 $2143 $1289
Rent $1054 $844 $618 $354 $965 $923 $567
Groceries $234 $98 $129 $44 $136 $127 $10
Dining out $345 $121 $269 $81 $271 $207 $227
Cafe $75 $25 $32 $18 $37 $42 $27
Coworking space $321 $95 $151 $49 $164 $160 $140
Mobile internet $49 $11 $27 $3 $24 $21 $10
Public transportation $35 $9 $55 $6 $63 $17 $30
Taxis $106 $9 $21 $6 $27 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $14 $49 $2 $18 $49 $40
Sport and cultural events $37 $24 $19 $11 $29 $97 $18
Museums and sights $36 $4 $15 $15 $24 $217 $12
Nightlife $96 $23 $43 $22 $47 $77 $82
Gym $86 $14 $36 $9 $65 $42 $23
Yoga $130 $19 $56 $23 $65 $54 $62
Massage $99 $10 $30 $15 $50 $101 $29
SIM card options Digicel Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps None available Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow N/A TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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 sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole 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 cafés for maté and facturas Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's 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 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow