Barbados ๐ง๐ง
|
Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
|
|
Population | 110,000 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 6,578,0179 | 880,691 |
Official language(s) | English, Bajan Creole | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish | Spanish |
Level of English | Very high | High | Very high | Moderate | Low |
Main airport | Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) |
Most common months to visit | November - May | April - October | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November | December - April |
Currency | BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) |
Credit cards | Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. |
Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $2702 | $1351 | $1549 | $2498 | $2359 |
Rent | $1054 | $615 | $618 | $1174 | $1036 |
Groceries | $234 | $114 | $129 | $175 | $236 |
Dining out | $345 | $165 | $269 | $313 | $371 |
Cafe | $75 | $38 | $32 | $51 | $43 |
Coworking space | $321 | $133 | $151 | $196 | $157 |
Mobile internet | $49 | $7 | $27 | $10 | $21 |
Public transportation | $35 | $21 | $55 | $78 | $12 |
Taxis | $106 | $9 | $21 | $44 | $48 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $0 | $25 | $49 | $49 | $0 |
Sport and cultural events | $37 | $29 | $19 | $54 | $35 |
Museums and sights | $36 | $29 | $15 | $20 | $9 |
Nightlife | $96 | $45 | $43 | $82 | $117 |
Gym | $86 | $30 | $36 | $44 | $37 |
Yoga | $130 | $59 | $56 | $142 | $163 |
Massage | $99 | $31 | $30 | $64 | $75 |
SIM card options | Digicel | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Movistar |
Tipping | 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere |
Taxi apps | None available | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber, Tu Chofer |
Tap water | 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. | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. | 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. |
Local food specialities | Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs | Sarmale, mฤmฤligฤ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤ de burtฤ, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja |
Eat like a local | Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | 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! | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 14 options on HappyCow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow |