Austin vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Hanoi vs Madrid vs Medellin vs Panama City vs Playa del Carmen vs Seoul

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 926,426 10,978,360 1,830,000 8,053,663 6,578,0179 2,427,000 880,691 259,453 9,963,452
Official language(s) English (de facto) Spanish Romanian Vietnamese Spanish Spanish Spanish Spanish Korean
Level of English Very high Low High Moderate Moderate Low Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, December April - October January, February, October - December March - May, September - November January - April, December December - April January - May, October - December March - May, September - November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1097 $1351 $1167 $2498 $1293 $2359 $2143 $2184
Rent $1650 $480 $615 $503 $1174 $732 $1036 $923 $797
Groceries $243 $82 $114 $151 $175 $87 $236 $127 $356
Dining out $396 $174 $165 $134 $313 $131 $371 $207 $211
Cafe $66 $22 $38 $39 $51 $18 $43 $42 $69
Coworking space $331 $77 $133 $72 $196 $96 $157 $160 $222
Mobile internet $40 $11 $7 $4 $10 $16 $21 $21 $40
Public transportation $110 $23 $21 $20 $78 $21 $12 $17 $40
Taxis $73 $28 $9 $13 $44 $14 $48 $9 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $25 $0 $49 $0 $0 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $54 $22 $29 $3 $54 $8 $35 $97 $39
Museums and sights $11 $7 $29 $4 $20 $9 $9 $217 $6
Nightlife $124 $46 $45 $89 $82 $73 $117 $77 $93
Gym $62 $15 $30 $57 $44 $15 $37 $42 $69
Yoga $139 $57 $59 $57 $142 $54 $163 $54 $112
Massage $89 $37 $31 $21 $64 $20 $75 $101 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange Viettel, Mobifone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Claro, Tigo Claro, Movistar Telcel, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Tip 10% in restaurants 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Grab, GoViet Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now EasyTaxi Uber, Tu Chofer N/A Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats 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 Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food 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! Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 104 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow