Photo: Lisa Andres · CC BY 2.0
Cost of Living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta is a city in Mexico, where a single person can expect to spend about $1,647 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $1,362 per month, or $773 outside the centre. Internet is workable at around 60 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Puerto Vallarta scores 45/100 — below average on safety for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 89°F and winter highs around 79°F, with roughly 263 sunny days a year.
Puerto Vallarta Cost of Living Breakdown
🍽️ Dining
🛒 Groceries
🚌 Transportation
⚡ Utilities & Tech
🎬 Lifestyle
👔 Clothing
🏠 Housing
📊 Summary
Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Puerto Vallarta
How Puerto Vallarta Ranks Among 340 Cities
Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Puerto Vallarta ranks in the top 30% for healthcare, but sits in the bottom 19% for internet speed. It costs more than 50% of them.
| Metric | Puerto Vallarta | World rank | Rank in Latin America & Caribbean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $1,647 | #173 of 340 | #60 of 63 |
| Safety | 45/100 | #261 of 340 | #34 of 63 |
| Healthcare | 78/100 | #100 of 340 | #3 of 63 |
| Internet speed | 60 Mbps | #278 of 340 | #48 of 63 |
| Walkability | 40/100 | #260 of 340 | #49 of 63 |
| Public transit | 32/100 | #194 of 340 | #28 of 63 |
| Food scene | 80/100 | #103 of 340 | #10 of 63 |
| Air quality | 87/100 | #104 of 340 | #11 of 63 |
Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.
Cheaper Alternatives to Puerto Vallarta
Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Puerto Vallarta.
- Florianopolis, Brazil — $1,047/mo, 36% cheaper, safety 50/100
- Cartagena, Colombia — $960/mo, 42% cheaper, safety 38/100
- Vitoria, Brazil — $893/mo, 46% cheaper, safety 42/100
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — $1,060/mo, 36% cheaper, safety 52/100
Puerto Vallarta FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Puerto Vallarta?
A single person should budget around $1,647 per month in Puerto Vallarta, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs. A family of four typically needs about $3,193 per month excluding rent.
How much is rent in Puerto Vallarta?
A one-bedroom apartment in central Puerto Vallarta averages $1,362 per month, dropping to about $773 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $2,260.
Is Puerto Vallarta safe?
Puerto Vallarta scores 45/100 on safety, which is below average on safety. Tourist safety is rated 62/100.
How fast is the internet in Puerto Vallarta?
Median download speeds in Puerto Vallarta are around 60 Mbps — workable for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 15 coworking spaces in the city.
Does Mexico offer a digital nomad visa?
Mexico does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders can usually stay 180 days visa-free.
What is the weather like in Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta sees summer highs around 89°F and winter highs near 79°F, with about 263 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 60 days.
Puerto Vallarta in our travel guides
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