Austin vs Berlin vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Madrid vs Panama City vs Rio de Janeiro

Austin 🇺🇸
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 926,426 3,400,000 10,978,360 1,830,000 2,900,000 6,578,0179 880,691 6,718,903
Official language(s) English (de facto) German Spanish Romanian Spanish Spanish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Very high Low High High Moderate Low Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Berlin Tegel (TXL) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November May - September January - March, December April - October September - December March - May, September - November December - April January - March, December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $2200 $1097 $1351 $1321 $2498 $2359 $1833
Rent $1650 $939 $480 $615 $844 $1174 $1036 $1066
Groceries $243 $188 $82 $114 $98 $175 $236 $95
Dining out $396 $271 $174 $165 $121 $313 $371 $210
Cafe $66 $57 $22 $38 $25 $51 $43 $25
Coworking space $331 $174 $77 $133 $95 $196 $157 $130
Mobile internet $40 $23 $11 $7 $11 $10 $21 $7
Public transportation $110 $88 $23 $21 $9 $78 $12 $33
Taxis $73 $58 $28 $9 $9 $44 $48 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $17 $25 $14 $49 $0 $16
Sport and cultural events $54 $64 $22 $29 $24 $54 $35 $55
Museums and sights $11 $37 $7 $29 $4 $20 $9 $26
Nightlife $124 $63 $46 $45 $23 $82 $117 $54
Gym $62 $66 $15 $30 $14 $44 $37 $31
Yoga $139 $99 $57 $59 $19 $142 $163 $40
Massage $89 $56 $37 $31 $10 $64 $75 $32
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Claro, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Tu Chofer Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. 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. 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 Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas 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! Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks 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 30 options on HappyCow 844 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 54 options on Happy Cow