Madrid vs Mexico City vs New York City vs Playa del Carmen vs Rio de Janeiro

Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
Remove
Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
Remove
New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Remove
Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
Remove
Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
Remove
Population 6,578,0179 8,850,000 8,323,340 259,453 6,718,903
Official language(s) Spanish Spanish English (de facto) Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Moderate Moderate Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April - June, September - November January - May, October - December January - March, December
Currency EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes Yes No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2498 $1867 $5431 $2143 $1833
Rent $1174 $778 $2891 $923 $1066
Groceries $175 $281 $383 $127 $95
Dining out $313 $182 $656 $207 $210
Cafe $51 $49 $72 $42 $25
Coworking space $196 $159 $326 $160 $130
Mobile internet $10 $25 $45 $21 $7
Public transportation $78 $11 $220 $17 $33
Taxis $44 $9 $78 $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $24 $30 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $54 $81 $100 $97 $55
Museums and sights $20 $20 $74 $217 $26
Nightlife $82 $64 $195 $77 $54
Gym $44 $69 $55 $42 $31
Yoga $142 $65 $197 $54 $40
Massage $64 $51 $109 $101 $32
SIM card options Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar AT&T, Verizon Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10-15% for restaurants 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber Uber, Lyft N/A Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 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 Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas 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 Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local 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! Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) 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 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 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow