|
Medellin 🇨🇴
|
Panama City 🇵🇦
|
Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
|
Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
|
|
| Population | 2,427,000 | 880,691 | 259,453 | 6,718,903 |
| Official language(s) | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish | Portuguese |
| Level of English | Low | Low | Moderate | Low |
| Main airport | José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Galeão International Airport |
| Most common months to visit | January - April, December | December - April | January - May, October - December | January - March, December |
| Currency | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) |
| Credit cards | Accepted in some places | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1293 | $2359 | $2143 | $1833 |
| Rent | $732 | $1036 | $923 | $1066 |
| Groceries | $87 | $236 | $127 | $95 |
| Dining out | $131 | $371 | $207 | $210 |
| Cafe | $18 | $43 | $42 | $25 |
| Coworking space | $96 | $157 | $160 | $130 |
| Mobile internet | $16 | $21 | $21 | $7 |
| Public transportation | $21 | $12 | $17 | $33 |
| Taxis | $14 | $48 | $9 | $14 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $0 | $0 | $49 | $16 |
| Sport and cultural events | $8 | $35 | $97 | $55 |
| Museums and sights | $9 | $9 | $217 | $26 |
| Nightlife | $73 | $117 | $77 | $54 |
| Gym | $15 | $37 | $42 | $31 |
| Yoga | $54 | $163 | $54 | $40 |
| Massage | $20 | $75 | $101 | $32 |
| SIM card options | Claro, Tigo | Claro, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | Tim, Claro, Vivo |
| Tipping | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common |
| Taxi apps | EasyTaxi | Uber, Tu Chofer | N/A | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | 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. | 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 | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja | 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 | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | 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 | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 54 options on Happy Cow |