|
Austin 🇺🇸
|
Lisbon 🇵🇹
|
Madrid 🇪🇸
|
Medellin 🇨🇴
|
Panama City 🇵🇦
|
|
| Population | 926,426 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 2,427,000 | 880,691 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Low | Low |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | January - April, December | December - April |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1984 | $2498 | $1293 | $2359 |
| Rent | $1650 | $965 | $1174 | $732 | $1036 |
| Groceries | $243 | $136 | $175 | $87 | $236 |
| Dining out | $396 | $271 | $313 | $131 | $371 |
| Cafe | $66 | $37 | $51 | $18 | $43 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $164 | $196 | $96 | $157 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $24 | $10 | $16 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $63 | $78 | $21 | $12 |
| Taxis | $73 | $27 | $44 | $14 | $48 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $18 | $49 | $0 | $0 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $29 | $54 | $8 | $35 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $24 | $20 | $9 | $9 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $47 | $82 | $73 | $117 |
| Gym | $62 | $65 | $44 | $15 | $37 |
| Yoga | $139 | $65 | $142 | $54 | $163 |
| Massage | $89 | $50 | $64 | $20 | $75 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Tigo | Claro, Movistar |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | EasyTaxi | Uber, Tu Chofer |
| Tap water | 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. | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | 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 | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | 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 | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! | 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 | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow |