Barbados vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs New York City

Barbados ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Population 110,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 517,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) English, Bajan Creole Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Portuguese English (de facto)
Level of English Very high Very high Low Very high Very high
Main airport Bridgetown/Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit November - May March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October April - June, September - November
Currency BBD - Barbadian dollar ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted in some places, cash also needed for smaller businesses Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2702 $1549 $659 $1984 $5431
Rent $1054 $618 $354 $965 $2891
Groceries $234 $129 $44 $136 $383
Dining out $345 $269 $81 $271 $656
Cafe $75 $32 $18 $37 $72
Coworking space $321 $151 $49 $164 $326
Mobile internet $49 $27 $3 $24 $45
Public transportation $35 $55 $6 $63 $220
Taxis $106 $21 $6 $27 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $0 $49 $2 $18 $30
Sport and cultural events $37 $19 $11 $29 $100
Museums and sights $36 $15 $15 $24 $74
Nightlife $96 $43 $22 $47 $195
Gym $86 $36 $9 $65 $55
Yoga $130 $56 $23 $65 $197
Massage $99 $30 $15 $50 $109
SIM card options Digicel MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone AT&T, Verizon
Tipping 10 - 15% usually included in restaurants, add 10 - 15% at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps None available Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Lyft
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. 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
Local food specialities Cou-cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie, conkies, Bajan black cake, sea eggs Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
Eat like a local Food trucks, pubs, seaside street food, roadside carts, local seafood restaurants, smaller traditional restaurants and rum shops Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 14 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow