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Austin 🇺🇸
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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| Population | 926,426 | 880,691 | 259,453 | 237,559 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Spanish | Spanish | Portuguese |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | Moderate | Very High |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | December - April | January - May, October - December | May - September |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2359 | $2143 | $1759 |
| Rent | $1650 | $1036 | $923 | $717 |
| Groceries | $243 | $236 | $127 | $148 |
| Dining out | $396 | $371 | $207 | $280 |
| Cafe | $66 | $43 | $42 | $45 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $157 | $160 | $96 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $21 | $21 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $12 | $17 | $95 |
| Taxis | $73 | $48 | $9 | $25 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $0 | $49 | $10 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $35 | $97 | $45 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $9 | $217 | $24 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $117 | $77 | $66 |
| Gym | $62 | $37 | $42 | $56 |
| Yoga | $139 | $163 | $54 | $82 |
| Massage | $89 | $75 | $101 | $48 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Claro, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | Vodafone, MEO, NOS |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Tu Chofer | N/A | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. | 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 | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. |
| Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa |
| Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 7 options on HappyCow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow |