Austin vs Budapest vs Buenos Aires vs Panama City vs Playa del Carmen vs Rio de Janeiro

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 2,900,000 880,691 259,453 6,718,903
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Spanish Spanish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high High High Low Moderate Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November September - December December - April January - May, October - December January - March, December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $1321 $2359 $2143 $1833
Rent $1650 $499 $844 $1036 $923 $1066
Groceries $243 $108 $98 $236 $127 $95
Dining out $396 $202 $121 $371 $207 $210
Cafe $66 $29 $25 $43 $42 $25
Coworking space $331 $120 $95 $157 $160 $130
Mobile internet $40 $9 $11 $21 $21 $7
Public transportation $110 $36 $9 $12 $17 $33
Taxis $73 $27 $9 $48 $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $14 $0 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $24 $35 $97 $55
Museums and sights $11 $7 $4 $9 $217 $26
Nightlife $124 $43 $23 $117 $77 $54
Gym $62 $37 $14 $37 $42 $31
Yoga $139 $48 $19 $163 $54 $40
Massage $89 $26 $10 $75 $101 $32
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Movistar, Claro, Personal Claro, Movistar Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at 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
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Tu Chofer N/A Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
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. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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.
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 Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores 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.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas 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.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 79 options on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow