Austin vs Chiang Mai vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Panama City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Panama City ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Population 926,426 1,166,978 517,000 6,578,0179 880,691
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Portuguese Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high Low Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November November - April March - May, September, October March - May, September - November December - April
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops.
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $974 $1984 $2498 $2359
Rent $1650 $274 $965 $1174 $1036
Groceries $243 $169 $136 $175 $236
Dining out $396 $108 $271 $313 $371
Cafe $66 $45 $37 $51 $43
Coworking space $331 $95 $164 $196 $157
Mobile internet $40 $11 $24 $10 $21
Public transportation $110 $60 $63 $78 $12
Taxis $73 $20 $27 $44 $48
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $10 $18 $49 $0
Sport and cultural events $54 $8 $29 $54 $35
Museums and sights $11 $8 $24 $20 $9
Nightlife $124 $62 $47 $82 $117
Gym $62 $41 $65 $44 $37
Yoga $139 $55 $65 $142 $163
Massage $89 $10 $50 $64 $75
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS, DTAC Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Claro, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Tu Chofer
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. 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. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries 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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Tascas, snack bars, seafood 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 90 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 7 options on HappyCow