Mexico City vs Rio de Janeiro

Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
Population 8,850,000 6,718,903
Official language(s) Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Moderate Low
Main airport Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, October, November January - March, December
Currency MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No
Average monthly costs $1867 $1833
Rent $778 $1066
Groceries $281 $95
Dining out $182 $210
Cafe $49 $25
Coworking space $159 $130
Mobile internet $25 $7
Public transportation $11 $33
Taxis $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $24 $16
Sport and cultural events $81 $55
Museums and sights $20 $26
Nightlife $64 $54
Gym $69 $31
Yoga $65 $40
Massage $51 $32
SIM card options Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Uber Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) 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 279 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow