Bangkok vs Hanoi vs Medellin vs Mexico City vs Panama City

Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
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Medellin ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Panama City ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Population 5,680,000 8,053,663 2,427,000 8,850,000 880,691
Official language(s) Thai Vietnamese Spanish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Low Moderate Low Moderate Low
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Josรฉ Marรญa Cรณrdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December January, February, October - December January - April, December March - May, October, November December - April
Currency THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops.
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1560 $1167 $1293 $1867 $2359
Rent $616 $503 $732 $778 $1036
Groceries $191 $151 $87 $281 $236
Dining out $168 $134 $131 $182 $371
Cafe $45 $39 $18 $49 $43
Coworking space $127 $72 $96 $159 $157
Mobile internet $23 $4 $16 $25 $21
Public transportation $32 $20 $21 $11 $12
Taxis $19 $13 $14 $9 $48
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $0 $0 $24 $0
Sport and cultural events $46 $3 $8 $81 $35
Museums and sights $21 $4 $9 $20 $9
Nightlife $50 $89 $73 $64 $117
Gym $96 $57 $15 $69 $37
Yoga $98 $57 $54 $65 $163
Massage $11 $21 $20 $51 $75
SIM card options AIS Viettel, Mobifone Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar Claro, Movistar
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Grab Grab, GoViet EasyTaxi Uber Uber, Tu Chofer
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. 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 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 Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 104 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow