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Austin 🇺🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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| Population | 926,426 | 10,978,360 | 4,617,560 | 2,427,000 | 880,691 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | Very high | Low | Low |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | January - March, December | March - May, September - November | January - April, December | December - April |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in some places | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1097 | $1549 | $1293 | $2359 |
| Rent | $1650 | $480 | $618 | $732 | $1036 |
| Groceries | $243 | $82 | $129 | $87 | $236 |
| Dining out | $396 | $174 | $269 | $131 | $371 |
| Cafe | $66 | $22 | $32 | $18 | $43 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $77 | $151 | $96 | $157 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $11 | $27 | $16 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $23 | $55 | $21 | $12 |
| Taxis | $73 | $28 | $21 | $14 | $48 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $17 | $49 | $0 | $0 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $22 | $19 | $8 | $35 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $7 | $15 | $9 | $9 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $46 | $43 | $73 | $117 |
| Gym | $62 | $15 | $36 | $15 | $37 |
| Yoga | $139 | $57 | $56 | $54 | $163 |
| Massage | $89 | $37 | $30 | $20 | $75 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Tigo, Movistar, Claro | MTN, Vodacom | Claro, Tigo | Claro, Movistar |
| 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 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Cabify | Uber, Bolt | EasyTaxi | Uber, Tu Chofer |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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. | 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. | 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 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. |
| Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja |
| 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. | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 104 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow |