Barbados vs Bogota vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen

Barbados 🇧🇧
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Population 110,000 10,978,360 4,617,560 1,166,978 15,520,000 8,850,000 259,453
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Turkish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Very high Low Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit November - May January - March, December March - May, September - November November - April April - June, September and October March - May, October, November January - May, October - December
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $2702 $1097 $1549 $974 $659 $1867 $2143
Rent $1054 $480 $618 $274 $354 $778 $923
Groceries $234 $82 $129 $169 $44 $281 $127
Dining out $345 $174 $269 $108 $81 $182 $207
Cafe $75 $22 $32 $45 $18 $49 $42
Coworking space $321 $77 $151 $95 $49 $159 $160
Mobile internet $49 $11 $27 $11 $3 $25 $21
Public transportation $35 $23 $55 $60 $6 $11 $17
Taxis $106 $28 $21 $20 $6 $9 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $17 $49 $10 $2 $24 $49
Sport and cultural events $37 $22 $19 $8 $11 $81 $97
Museums and sights $36 $7 $15 $8 $15 $20 $217
Nightlife $96 $46 $43 $62 $22 $64 $77
Gym $86 $15 $36 $41 $9 $69 $42
Yoga $130 $57 $56 $55 $23 $65 $54
Massage $99 $37 $30 $10 $15 $51 $101
SIM card options Digicel Tigo, Movistar, Claro MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps None available Uber, Cabify Uber, Bolt Grab BiTaksi Uber N/A
Tap water Not drinkable 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. Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. 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. 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 fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
Local food specialities Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
Eat like a local Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow