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

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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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 926,426 517,000 2,427,000 8,850,000 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Portuguese Spanish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Josรฉ Marรญa Cรณrdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September, October January - April, December March - May, October, November January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1984 $1293 $1867 $2143
Rent $1650 $965 $732 $778 $923
Groceries $243 $136 $87 $281 $127
Dining out $396 $271 $131 $182 $207
Cafe $66 $37 $18 $49 $42
Coworking space $331 $164 $96 $159 $160
Mobile internet $40 $24 $16 $25 $21
Public transportation $110 $63 $21 $11 $17
Taxis $73 $27 $14 $9 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $18 $0 $24 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $8 $81 $97
Museums and sights $11 $24 $9 $20 $217
Nightlife $124 $47 $73 $64 $77
Gym $62 $65 $15 $69 $42
Yoga $139 $65 $54 $65 $54
Massage $89 $50 $20 $51 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, FreeNow EasyTaxi Uber N/A
Tap water Drinkable 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries 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 Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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 401 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow