Barbados vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Seoul

Barbados ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Seoul ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 110,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 9,963,452
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Thai Turkish Spanish Korean
Level of English Very high Low Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit November - May November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) KRW - South Korean won (โ‚ฉ)
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 Yes No
Average monthly costs $2702 $974 $659 $2498 $2184
Rent $1054 $274 $354 $1174 $797
Groceries $234 $169 $44 $175 $356
Dining out $345 $108 $81 $313 $211
Cafe $75 $45 $18 $51 $69
Coworking space $321 $95 $49 $196 $222
Mobile internet $49 $11 $3 $10 $40
Public transportation $35 $60 $6 $78 $40
Taxis $106 $20 $6 $44 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $10 $2 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $37 $8 $11 $54 $39
Museums and sights $36 $8 $15 $20 $6
Nightlife $96 $62 $22 $82 $93
Gym $86 $41 $9 $44 $69
Yoga $130 $55 $23 $142 $112
Massage $99 $10 $15 $64 $75
SIM card options Digicel AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone 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 Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Not customary or expected
Taxi apps None available Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 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, 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 Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros 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 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! 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 85 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow