Austin vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs New York City vs Playa del Carmen

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 517,000 6,578,0179 8,323,340 259,453
Official language(s) English (de facto) Portuguese Spanish English (de facto) Spanish
Level of English Very high Very high Moderate Very high Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, September, October March - May, September - November April - June, September - November January - May, October - December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) USD - US Dollar ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1984 $2498 $5431 $2143
Rent $1650 $965 $1174 $2891 $923
Groceries $243 $136 $175 $383 $127
Dining out $396 $271 $313 $656 $207
Cafe $66 $37 $51 $72 $42
Coworking space $331 $164 $196 $326 $160
Mobile internet $40 $24 $10 $45 $21
Public transportation $110 $63 $78 $220 $17
Taxis $73 $27 $44 $78 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $18 $49 $30 $49
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $54 $100 $97
Museums and sights $11 $24 $20 $74 $217
Nightlife $124 $47 $82 $195 $77
Gym $62 $65 $44 $55 $42
Yoga $139 $65 $142 $197 $54
Massage $89 $50 $64 $109 $101
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone AT&T, Verizon Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Lyft N/A
Tap water Drinkable 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. 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. American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. 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 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 Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. 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 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! Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow