Playa del Carmen vs Rio de Janeiro

Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
Population 259,453 6,718,903
Official language(s) Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Moderate Low
Main airport Cancun International Airport (CUN) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit January - May, October - December January - March, December
Currency MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No
Average monthly costs $2143 $1833
Rent $923 $1066
Groceries $127 $95
Dining out $207 $210
Cafe $42 $25
Coworking space $160 $130
Mobile internet $21 $7
Public transportation $17 $33
Taxis $9 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $97 $55
Museums and sights $217 $26
Nightlife $77 $54
Gym $42 $31
Yoga $54 $40
Massage $101 $32
SIM card options Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 10-15% for restaurants 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps N/A Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall 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 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 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 72 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow