Austin 🇺🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population | 926,426 | 10,978,360 | 2,900,000 | 4,617,560 | 8,053,663 | 517,000 | 880,691 | 237,559 | 6,718,903 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Spanish | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Vietnamese | Portuguese | Spanish | Portuguese | Portuguese |
Level of English | Very high | Low | High | Very high | Moderate | Very high | Low | Very High | Low |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Nội Bà i International Airport (HAN) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Galeão International Airport |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | January - March, December | September - December | March - May, September - November | January, February, October - December | March - May, September, October | December - April | May - September | January - March, December |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) | EUR - Euro (€) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | EUR - Euro (€) | BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1097 | $1321 | $1549 | $1167 | $1984 | $2359 | $1759 | $1833 |
Rent | $1650 | $480 | $844 | $618 | $503 | $965 | $1036 | $717 | $1066 |
Groceries | $243 | $82 | $98 | $129 | $151 | $136 | $236 | $148 | $95 |
Dining out | $396 | $174 | $121 | $269 | $134 | $271 | $371 | $280 | $210 |
Cafe | $66 | $22 | $25 | $32 | $39 | $37 | $43 | $45 | $25 |
Coworking space | $331 | $77 | $95 | $151 | $72 | $164 | $157 | $96 | $130 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $11 | $11 | $27 | $4 | $24 | $21 | $21 | $7 |
Public transportation | $110 | $23 | $9 | $55 | $20 | $63 | $12 | $95 | $33 |
Taxis | $73 | $28 | $9 | $21 | $13 | $27 | $48 | $25 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $14 | $49 | $0 | $18 | $0 | $10 | $16 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $22 | $24 | $19 | $3 | $29 | $35 | $45 | $55 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $7 | $4 | $15 | $4 | $24 | $9 | $24 | $26 |
Nightlife | $124 | $46 | $23 | $43 | $89 | $47 | $117 | $66 | $54 |
Gym | $62 | $15 | $14 | $36 | $57 | $65 | $37 | $56 | $31 |
Yoga | $139 | $57 | $19 | $56 | $57 | $65 | $163 | $82 | $40 |
Massage | $89 | $37 | $10 | $30 | $21 | $50 | $75 | $48 | $32 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Tigo, Movistar, Claro | Movistar, Claro, Personal | MTN, Vodacom | Viettel, Mobifone | Vodafone | Claro, Movistar | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | Tim, Claro, Vivo |
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 | 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Cabify | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | Uber, Bolt | Grab, GoViet | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Tu Chofer | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | 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. | Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options | 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 sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | 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 seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | 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. | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | 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 | Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua | Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | 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 | Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del dÃa. Community markets and sports bars. | Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | 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 | 104 options on Happy Cow | 79 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 104 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 54 options on Happy Cow |