Cape Town vs New York City vs Panama City vs Playa del Carmen vs Rio de Janeiro

Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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New York City ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Panama City ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 4,617,560 8,323,340 880,691 259,453 6,718,903
Official language(s) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English English (de facto) Spanish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Very high Low Moderate Low
Main airport Cape Town International Airport (CPT) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Tocumen International Airport (PTY) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September - November December - April January - May, October - December January - March, December
Currency ZAR - South African Rand (R) USD - US Dollar ($) PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1549 $5431 $2359 $2143 $1833
Rent $618 $2891 $1036 $923 $1066
Groceries $129 $383 $236 $127 $95
Dining out $269 $656 $371 $207 $210
Cafe $32 $72 $43 $42 $25
Coworking space $151 $326 $157 $160 $130
Mobile internet $27 $45 $21 $21 $7
Public transportation $55 $220 $12 $17 $33
Taxis $21 $78 $48 $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $30 $0 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $19 $100 $35 $97 $55
Museums and sights $15 $74 $9 $217 $26
Nightlife $43 $195 $117 $77 $54
Gym $36 $55 $37 $42 $31
Yoga $56 $197 $163 $54 $40
Massage $30 $109 $75 $101 $32
SIM card options MTN, Vodacom AT&T, Verizon Claro, Movistar Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 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 Uber, Bolt Uber, Lyft Uber, Tu Chofer N/A Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. 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. 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 Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, 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 Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants 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 24 options on HappyCow 309 options on HappyCow 7 options on HappyCow 72 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow