Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ
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Buenos Aires ๐ฆ๐ท
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
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Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐ง๐ท
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Population | 5,585,556 | 2,900,000 | 1,166,978 | 8,850,000 | 880,691 | 259,453 | 6,718,903 |
Official language(s) | Catalan, Spanish | Spanish | Thai | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish | Portuguese |
Level of English | High | High | Low | Moderate | Low | Moderate | Low |
Main airport | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Galeรฃo International Airport |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September - November | September - December | November - April | March - May, October, November | December - April | January - May, October - December | January - March, December |
Currency | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $2384 | $1321 | $974 | $1867 | $2359 | $2143 | $1833 |
Rent | $932 | $844 | $274 | $778 | $1036 | $923 | $1066 |
Groceries | $121 | $98 | $169 | $281 | $236 | $127 | $95 |
Dining out | $403 | $121 | $108 | $182 | $371 | $207 | $210 |
Cafe | $45 | $25 | $45 | $49 | $43 | $42 | $25 |
Coworking space | $213 | $95 | $95 | $159 | $157 | $160 | $130 |
Mobile internet | $10 | $11 | $11 | $25 | $21 | $21 | $7 |
Public transportation | $127 | $9 | $60 | $11 | $12 | $17 | $33 |
Taxis | $48 | $9 | $20 | $9 | $48 | $9 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $24 | $14 | $10 | $24 | $0 | $49 | $16 |
Sport and cultural events | $81 | $24 | $8 | $81 | $35 | $97 | $55 |
Museums and sights | $33 | $4 | $8 | $20 | $9 | $217 | $26 |
Nightlife | $112 | $23 | $62 | $64 | $117 | $77 | $54 |
Gym | $81 | $14 | $41 | $69 | $37 | $42 | $31 |
Yoga | $93 | $19 | $55 | $65 | $163 | $54 | $40 |
Massage | $59 | $10 | $10 | $51 | $75 | $101 | $32 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Movistar | Movistar, Claro, Personal | AIS, DTAC | Telcel, Movistar | Claro, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | Tim, Claro, Vivo |
Tipping | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 10% at restaurants and cafรฉs is common, not common at bars | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common |
Taxi apps | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | Grab | Uber | Uber, Tu Chofer | N/A | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. | Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options | Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. | 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. | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. |
Local food specialities | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. |
Eat like a local | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafรฉs for matรฉ and facturas | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 98 options on HappyCow | 79 options on Happy Cow | 90 options on HappyCow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 54 options on Happy Cow |