Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Lisbon vs Medellin vs Panama City vs Rio de Janeiro

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 1,830,000 2,900,000 517,000 2,427,000 880,691 6,718,903
Official language(s) Romanian Spanish Portuguese Spanish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English High High Very high Low Low Low
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit April - October September - December March - May, September, October January - April, December December - April January - March, December
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted in some places Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1321 $1984 $1293 $2359 $1833
Rent $615 $844 $965 $732 $1036 $1066
Groceries $114 $98 $136 $87 $236 $95
Dining out $165 $121 $271 $131 $371 $210
Cafe $38 $25 $37 $18 $43 $25
Coworking space $133 $95 $164 $96 $157 $130
Mobile internet $7 $11 $24 $16 $21 $7
Public transportation $21 $9 $63 $21 $12 $33
Taxis $9 $9 $27 $14 $48 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $14 $18 $0 $0 $16
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $29 $8 $35 $55
Museums and sights $29 $4 $24 $9 $9 $26
Nightlife $45 $23 $47 $73 $117 $54
Gym $30 $14 $65 $15 $37 $31
Yoga $59 $19 $65 $54 $163 $40
Massage $31 $10 $50 $20 $75 $32
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal Vodafone Claro, Tigo Claro, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 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 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, FreeNow EasyTaxi Uber, Tu Chofer Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine 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 seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats 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 Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa 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 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food 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 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow 54 options on Happy Cow