|
Austin 🇺🇸
|
Madrid 🇪🇸
|
Panama City 🇵🇦
|
Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
|
|
| Population | 926,426 | 6,578,0179 | 880,691 | 259,453 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November | December - April | January - May, October - December |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2498 | $2359 | $2143 |
| Rent | $1650 | $1174 | $1036 | $923 |
| Groceries | $243 | $175 | $236 | $127 |
| Dining out | $396 | $313 | $371 | $207 |
| Cafe | $66 | $51 | $43 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $196 | $157 | $160 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $21 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $78 | $12 | $17 |
| Taxis | $73 | $44 | $48 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $49 | $0 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $54 | $35 | $97 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $20 | $9 | $217 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $82 | $117 | $77 |
| Gym | $62 | $44 | $37 | $42 |
| Yoga | $139 | $142 | $163 | $54 |
| Massage | $89 | $64 | $75 | $101 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber, Tu Chofer | N/A |
| Tap water | 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, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | 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 | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | 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 | 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! | 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 | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |