Austin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Lisbon vs Panama City vs Playa del Carmen

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,768,073 517,000 880,691 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Hungarian Portuguese Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high High High Very high Low Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October March - June, September - November March - May, September, October December - April January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) EUR - Euro (€) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1230 $1984 $2359 $2143
Rent $1650 $615 $499 $965 $1036 $923
Groceries $243 $114 $108 $136 $236 $127
Dining out $396 $165 $202 $271 $371 $207
Cafe $66 $38 $29 $37 $43 $42
Coworking space $331 $133 $120 $164 $157 $160
Mobile internet $40 $7 $9 $24 $21 $21
Public transportation $110 $21 $36 $63 $12 $17
Taxis $73 $9 $27 $27 $48 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $13 $18 $0 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $24 $29 $35 $97
Museums and sights $11 $29 $7 $24 $9 $217
Nightlife $124 $45 $43 $47 $117 $77
Gym $62 $30 $37 $65 $37 $42
Yoga $139 $59 $48 $65 $163 $54
Massage $89 $31 $26 $50 $75 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Vodafone Claro, Movistar Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Tu Chofer N/A
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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. 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. 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 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 Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana 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 Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow