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Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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| Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 6,578,0179 | 259,453 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | March - May, September - November | January - May, October - December |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $2498 | $2143 |
| Rent | $1650 | $932 | $1174 | $923 |
| Groceries | $243 | $121 | $175 | $127 |
| Dining out | $396 | $403 | $313 | $207 |
| Cafe | $66 | $45 | $51 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $196 | $160 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $10 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $78 | $17 |
| Taxis | $73 | $48 | $44 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $49 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $54 | $97 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $20 | $217 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $82 | $77 |
| Gym | $62 | $81 | $44 | $42 |
| Yoga | $139 | $93 | $142 | $54 |
| Massage | $89 | $59 | $64 | $101 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | N/A |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | 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. | 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. | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | 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 | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | 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 | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 98 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |