Austin vs Bangkok vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Panama City vs Rio de Janeiro

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 1,830,000 1,768,073 880,691 6,718,903
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Romanian Hungarian Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Low High High Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December April - October March - June, September - November December - April January - March, December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $1351 $1230 $2359 $1833
Rent $1650 $616 $615 $499 $1036 $1066
Groceries $243 $191 $114 $108 $236 $95
Dining out $396 $168 $165 $202 $371 $210
Cafe $66 $45 $38 $29 $43 $25
Coworking space $331 $127 $133 $120 $157 $130
Mobile internet $40 $23 $7 $9 $21 $7
Public transportation $110 $32 $21 $36 $12 $33
Taxis $73 $19 $9 $27 $48 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $25 $13 $0 $16
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $29 $24 $35 $55
Museums and sights $11 $21 $29 $7 $9 $26
Nightlife $124 $50 $45 $43 $117 $54
Gym $62 $96 $30 $37 $37 $31
Yoga $139 $98 $59 $48 $163 $40
Massage $89 $11 $31 $26 $75 $32
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Claro, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Tu Chofer Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. 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. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 7 options on HappyCow 54 options on Happy Cow