Barbados ๐ง๐ง
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
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Population | 110,000 | 1,166,978 | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 9,963,452 |
Official language(s) | English, Bajan Creole | Thai | Turkish | Greek | Korean |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Low | High | Moderate |
Main airport | Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
Most common months to visit | November - May | November - April | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | March - May, September - November |
Currency | BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) |
Credit cards | Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $2702 | $974 | $659 | $1959 | $2184 |
Rent | $1054 | $274 | $354 | $678 | $797 |
Groceries | $234 | $169 | $44 | $157 | $356 |
Dining out | $345 | $108 | $81 | $261 | $211 |
Cafe | $75 | $45 | $18 | $56 | $69 |
Coworking space | $321 | $95 | $49 | $209 | $222 |
Mobile internet | $49 | $11 | $3 | $35 | $40 |
Public transportation | $35 | $60 | $6 | $63 | $40 |
Taxis | $106 | $20 | $6 | $42 | $41 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $0 | $10 | $2 | $45 | $13 |
Sport and cultural events | $37 | $8 | $11 | $28 | $39 |
Museums and sights | $36 | $8 | $15 | $8 | $6 |
Nightlife | $96 | $62 | $22 | $110 | $93 |
Gym | $86 | $41 | $9 | $107 | $69 |
Yoga | $130 | $55 | $23 | $105 | $112 |
Massage | $99 | $10 | $15 | $54 | $75 |
SIM card options | Digicel | AIS, DTAC | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
Tipping | 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | Not customary or expected |
Taxi apps | None available | Grab | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, Kakao |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | 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 | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. |
Local food specialities | Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam |
Eat like a local | Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops | 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 | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 14 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 57 options on Happy Cow |