Austin ๐บ๐ธ
|
Buenos Aires ๐ฆ๐ท
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Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
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Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Population | 926,426 | 2,900,000 | 880,691 | 259,453 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish |
Level of English | Very high | High | Low | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | September - December | December - April | January - May, October - December |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1321 | $2359 | $2143 |
Rent | $1650 | $844 | $1036 | $923 |
Groceries | $243 | $98 | $236 | $127 |
Dining out | $396 | $121 | $371 | $207 |
Cafe | $66 | $25 | $43 | $42 |
Coworking space | $331 | $95 | $157 | $160 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $11 | $21 | $21 |
Public transportation | $110 | $9 | $12 | $17 |
Taxis | $73 | $9 | $48 | $9 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $14 | $0 | $49 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $24 | $35 | $97 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $4 | $9 | $217 |
Nightlife | $124 | $23 | $117 | $77 |
Gym | $62 | $14 | $37 | $42 |
Yoga | $139 | $19 | $163 | $54 |
Massage | $89 | $10 | $75 | $101 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Movistar, Claro, Personal | Claro, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 10% at restaurants and cafรฉs is common, not common at bars | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | Uber, Tu Chofer | N/A |
Tap water | 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. | 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 |
Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, 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 | Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafรฉs for matรฉ and facturas | 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 | 79 options on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |