Austin vs Bucharest vs Medellin vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Medellin ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 2,427,000 8,850,000 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Spanish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Josรฉ Marรญa Cรณrdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October January - April, December March - May, October, November January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1293 $1867 $2143
Rent $1650 $615 $732 $778 $923
Groceries $243 $114 $87 $281 $127
Dining out $396 $165 $131 $182 $207
Cafe $66 $38 $18 $49 $42
Coworking space $331 $133 $96 $159 $160
Mobile internet $40 $7 $16 $25 $21
Public transportation $110 $21 $21 $11 $17
Taxis $73 $9 $14 $9 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $0 $24 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $8 $81 $97
Museums and sights $11 $29 $9 $20 $217
Nightlife $124 $45 $73 $64 $77
Gym $62 $30 $15 $69 $42
Yoga $139 $59 $54 $65 $54
Massage $89 $31 $20 $51 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Claro, Tigo Telcel, 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 Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber EasyTaxi Uber N/A
Tap water 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. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas 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 Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow