Barbados vs Buenos Aires vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Rio de Janeiro

Barbados 🇧🇧
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 110,000 2,900,000 8,053,663 15,520,000 6,578,0179 6,718,903
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Vietnamese Turkish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high High Moderate Low Moderate Low
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit November - May September - December January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, September - November January - March, December
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2702 $1321 $1167 $659 $2498 $1833
Rent $1054 $844 $503 $354 $1174 $1066
Groceries $234 $98 $151 $44 $175 $95
Dining out $345 $121 $134 $81 $313 $210
Cafe $75 $25 $39 $18 $51 $25
Coworking space $321 $95 $72 $49 $196 $130
Mobile internet $49 $11 $4 $3 $10 $7
Public transportation $35 $9 $20 $6 $78 $33
Taxis $106 $9 $13 $6 $44 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $14 $0 $2 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $37 $24 $3 $11 $54 $55
Museums and sights $36 $4 $4 $15 $20 $26
Nightlife $96 $23 $89 $22 $82 $54
Gym $86 $14 $57 $9 $44 $31
Yoga $130 $19 $57 $23 $142 $40
Massage $99 $10 $21 $15 $64 $32
SIM card options Digicel Movistar, Claro, Personal Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps None available Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab, GoViet BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 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 Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
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 Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
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 Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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! The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow