Austin vs Budapest vs Madrid vs Panama City

Austin 🇺🇸
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Population 926,426 1,768,073 6,578,0179 880,691
Official language(s) English (de facto) Hungarian Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Moderate Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - June, September - November March - May, September - November December - April
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) EUR - Euro (€) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops.
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1230 $2498 $2359
Rent $1650 $499 $1174 $1036
Groceries $243 $108 $175 $236
Dining out $396 $202 $313 $371
Cafe $66 $29 $51 $43
Coworking space $331 $120 $196 $157
Mobile internet $40 $9 $10 $21
Public transportation $110 $36 $78 $12
Taxis $73 $27 $44 $48
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $13 $49 $0
Sport and cultural events $54 $24 $54 $35
Museums and sights $11 $7 $20 $9
Nightlife $124 $43 $82 $117
Gym $62 $37 $44 $37
Yoga $139 $48 $142 $163
Massage $89 $26 $64 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Telenor Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Claro, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Bolt, Fotaxi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Tu Chofer
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. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. 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.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants 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
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 47 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow