Is It Expensive to Live in Puerto Vallarta?

If you’re looking to relocate to paradise and buy property in Puerto Vallarta, one of the most important things to know is the cost of living. Naturally, some of the first questions that popped into your head after flirting with the idea of buying your next home in Puerto Vallarta, were “how much does it cost to live in Puerto Vallarta?” “is it expensive?” “how much do I need to live comfortably in Puerto Vallarta?”. If your list goes on, don’t worry! We are here to answer all of your questions related to cost of living in Puerto Vallarta.

For starters, Puerto Vallarta is extremely affordable, especially when compared to other tropical Mexican destinations such as Los Cabos or Cancún. Although, since it is a touristic destination, it does tend to be a bit pricier than the rest of the country. However, if you reign from Canada or the U.S., you can expect to spend a whole lot less for a whole lot more.

So, if it’s not expensive to live in Puerto Vallarta, how much can you expect to spend each month? This question can be hard to answer on a general scale, as lifestyle preferences vary from person to person. But nonetheless, let’s break it down to see how much it costs on average to live in Puerto Vallarta.

Let’s take a look at housing. If planning to rent, $750 USD or $15,000 MX can get you a beautiful condominium or small house, depending on the area. This price goes a long way, and you will be able to rent something close to the beach and in a good neighborhood. Wi-fi and utilities such as light, will be an extra $2000 pesos or so, or $100 USD. But, if looking to max out at $15,000 MX a month for everything, this is extremely possible, and you will still be able to find something relatively close to the beach and in a safe neighborhood. Of course, if you are planning to buy a property, you will only be responsible

Now, what about groceries? It really comes down to where you shop, but all in all, you’re looking at spending anywhere from $100-300 USD, or $2000-$6000 MX a month on groceries. You may choose to shop at the little corner store in your neighborhood, which will have less options but better prices, or head to Costco or La Comer, which will have more options at a higher price. So, although prices will vary based on where you shop, you can ultimately expect to spend no more than $300 USD on groceries.

Cooking is great and all, but sometimes, we just need to eat out! Eating out is extremely inexpensive in Puerto Vallarta, especially if your favorite spot happens to be one of the many ever so delicious street taco stands. If you eat out on occasion, you can expect to spend no more than $200 USD or $4000 MX a month on dining out. But of course, this number is dependent on where exactly you eat out and how often.

Transportation, you may ask?! Transportation is incredibly inexpensive. Bus fare is $10 MX, which is equivalent to $.50 USD. You can take a 20-minute uber ride for $80 MX, which is the equivalent of $4 USD. Uber rates fluctuate day by day based on a number of variants, but prices remain fairly inexpensive. Luckily though, Puerto Vallarta is a walkable city and bike paths are being implemented daily. All in all, you can expect to spend no more than $100 a month on transportation, and this is only if you are Uber-ing daily.

If you have pets or children, expect to adjust these numbers a bit. If you tend to be a fan of dining out at 5-star restaurants, then expect to adjust these numbers a bit. But, if you grocery shop, eat out occasionally, are mindful of turning off your electronics when not in use, and take public transportation if a car is not an option, you can expect an incredibly low cost of living.

Of course, cost of living is dependent on lifestyle choices, but it is easy to spend no more than $1350 USD every month. However, if you live like a local, you can expect to spend wayyyy less than this. Puerto Vallarta is an inexpensive tropical destination that offers residents an unbelievable quality of life for less! If you are looking to relocate to Puerto Vallarta, Coldwell Banker La Costa is here to help! Contact Us today!