|
Austin 🇺🇸
|
Barcelona 🇪🇸
|
Panama City 🇵🇦
|
Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
|
|
| Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 880,691 | 259,453 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | High | Low | Moderate |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | December - April | January - May, October - December |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $2359 | $2143 |
| Rent | $1650 | $932 | $1036 | $923 |
| Groceries | $243 | $121 | $236 | $127 |
| Dining out | $396 | $403 | $371 | $207 |
| Cafe | $66 | $45 | $43 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $157 | $160 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $21 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $12 | $17 |
| Taxis | $73 | $48 | $48 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $0 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $35 | $97 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $9 | $217 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $117 | $77 |
| Gym | $62 | $81 | $37 | $42 |
| Yoga | $139 | $93 | $163 | $54 |
| Massage | $89 | $59 | $75 | $101 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Claro, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber, Tu Chofer | N/A |
| Tap water | 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. | Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. | 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. | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices |
| Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole |
| Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 98 options on HappyCow | 7 options on HappyCow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |