Austin vs Budapest vs Panama City vs Playa del Carmen vs Rio de Janeiro vs Sofia

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 880,691 259,453 6,718,903 1,270,169
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Spanish Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate Low High
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Galeão International Airport Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November December - April January - May, October - December January - March, December April-June, September-October
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $2359 $2143 $1833 $1289
Rent $1650 $499 $1036 $923 $1066 $567
Groceries $243 $108 $236 $127 $95 $10
Dining out $396 $202 $371 $207 $210 $227
Cafe $66 $29 $43 $42 $25 $27
Coworking space $331 $120 $157 $160 $130 $140
Mobile internet $40 $9 $21 $21 $7 $10
Public transportation $110 $36 $12 $17 $33 $30
Taxis $73 $27 $48 $9 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $0 $49 $16 $40
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $35 $97 $55 $18
Museums and sights $11 $7 $9 $217 $26 $12
Nightlife $124 $43 $117 $77 $54 $82
Gym $62 $37 $37 $42 $31 $23
Yoga $139 $48 $163 $54 $40 $62
Massage $89 $26 $75 $101 $32 $29
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Claro, Movistar Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10-15% for restaurants 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Tu Chofer N/A Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable 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. 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. 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, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's 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. Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 7 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow