Barbados vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen

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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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 110,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 8,850,000 259,453
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Thai Turkish Spanish Spanish
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) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit November - May November - April April - June, September and October March - May, October, November January - May, October - December
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses 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 Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $2702 $974 $659 $1867 $2143
Rent $1054 $274 $354 $778 $923
Groceries $234 $169 $44 $281 $127
Dining out $345 $108 $81 $182 $207
Cafe $75 $45 $18 $49 $42
Coworking space $321 $95 $49 $159 $160
Mobile internet $49 $11 $3 $25 $21
Public transportation $35 $60 $6 $11 $17
Taxis $106 $20 $6 $9 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $10 $2 $24 $49
Sport and cultural events $37 $8 $11 $81 $97
Museums and sights $36 $8 $15 $20 $217
Nightlife $96 $62 $22 $64 $77
Gym $86 $41 $9 $69 $42
Yoga $130 $55 $23 $65 $54
Massage $99 $10 $15 $51 $101
SIM card options Digicel AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar
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 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps None available Grab BiTaksi Uber N/A
Tap water 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. 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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, 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 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, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow