I didn’t plan to move to Puerto Vallarta.
We came for a few days in September and something happened. The low season brought fantastic weather without the crowds. We kept extending our stay.
After living in Puerto Vallarta for 30 days, I learned things about the real cost of living here that surprised even me. This isn’t a vacation budget.
This is what it actually costs when you settle into daily life.
Why Puerto Vallarta Works for Long Term Living
Puerto Vallarta gets over 6 million visitors each year. Most people think of it as a beach resort town. They’re not wrong, but there’s so much more happening here.
The city sits on the Bay of Banderas between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Around 550,000 people live in the greater Puerto Vallarta area. The bay protects the city from hurricanes, unlike places on Mexico’s east coast.
We visited in September at the end of low season. The weather was perfect. Locals were relaxed. We never waited in line for anything. No restaurant reservations needed.
September is technically still rainy season but it didn’t impact us at all. Over 30 days we only had two rainy days. Most of the time it would rain between 4 and 7 PM for maybe half an hour. You could spend the day outside, come home during the rain and go back out for dinner.
Puerto Vallarta has a real west coast vibe. It feels different from the Mayan Riviera. More laid back. Less rushed.
The Real Numbers: $1,720 for 30 Days
Here’s what we actually spent for two people over 30 days: $1,720 USD.
That total surprised me. We’ve spent almost as much on food alone in other cities while still eating at local places. Puerto Vallarta was different because of our living situation.
Housing: $1,090 USD
There are so many fantastic condo, apartment rentals and hotels in Puerto Vallarta. The quality is high and you can rent luxury accommodation or look for budget hotels. Our first few days we stayed in a private room in a hostel that had a great rooftop patio.
But our condo was the game changer.
I found it through Facebook rental groups by posting our budget and dates (literally the image above). Karina a realtor reached out with a unit that perfectly fit our timeline.
We stayed in a furnished condo in Zona Romantica. The place had everything: a fully stocked kitchen, dishwasher, washing machine, two bathrooms and a king size bed. We could drink the tap water, which is rare in Mexico unless you’re used to living in Canada.
The building had a rooftop pool and gym. Our unit had city views. Most importantly, there was a hospital clinic right downstairs. We didn’t plan for that but it made a huge difference when my partner Alan needed medical care.
I paid 16,000 Mexican pesos for the month. For electricity, I chose the flat rate of 2,000 pesos instead of paying by the meter. Other condos told me electricity costs between 1,500 to 2,500 pesos depending on air conditioning use. I didn’t want to worry about turning the AC on or off, so we paid the extra and enjoyed full comfort.
I think we got a deal at half or maybe even one third of high season pricing. The timing worked perfectly. Our month filled the gap before their long term winter residents returned.
Having two bathrooms, a dishwasher and a washing machine changed everything about living together as a couple. I can’t stress enough how much those amenities improved daily life.
How to Rent My Place
I rented with Brisa Marina/Sea Breeza and highly recommend it. Karina was amazing, trustworthy and responsive.
She represents a number of places in the city you can reach her: +52 322 105 4681 (whatsapp) or [email protected].
The fastest way to reach ANYONE in Mexico is with Whatsapp, it’s free messaging and calls using your mobile phone number. And it’s not a random app, it’s owned by Meta aka Instagram/Facebook.
The Location Problem
The condo itself was perfect. The location was wrong for us.
Zona Romantica is the heart of Puerto Vallarta’s restaurant, bar and nightlife scene. Everyone knows it and many people want to stay here because of it.
In September at the beginning it was absolutely fine. It felt like a small town and was pretty quiet As we got into October, the noise increased. I talked a couple who spends winters in Puerto Vallarta and he said it’s crucial not to get a condo facing the street.
We like small coffee shops, comedores and local food. We’re in the chill phase of our lives. The constant party atmosphere wasn’t a long term fit.
Many expats move to neighborhoods like Versalles, Marina Vallarta or 5 de Diciembre. Versalles has become Puerto Vallarta’s foodie hub with new restaurants opening constantly. Time Out magazine named it one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world.
Marina Vallarta offers an upscale, quiet lifestyle. It’s closer to the airport and has modern condos with marina views. The trade off is you’re farther from downtown and the main restaurant scene.
5 de Diciembre gives you a more local feel while staying close to the beach. It’s walking distance to Zona Romantica but quieter at night.
For longer term living, I’d definitely choose a different neighborhood. Zona Romantica works great for a month or for people who want nightlife at their doorstep.
For us, somewhere quieter would be better.
Food: $450 USD Total
Food costs broke down into two categories. We spent $300 USD on groceries and $150 USD eating out.
Having a fully equipped kitchen changed how we lived. We cooked almost all our meals at home. That wasn’t the plan. But when you have an oven, dishwasher and everything you need, why not?
We ate meat, protein and fresh seafood. Some groceries came from Walmart, some from Soriana, some from the local market.
Grocery prices in Puerto Vallarta are affordable. If you want imported steak from Canada, America or Australia, you’ll pay premium prices. We ate Mexican cuts and local products, which kept costs down.
The $150 we spent eating out went to traditional Mexican food. We had menu del dia set lunches. We ate tacos at 25 pesos each, maybe a bit more for premium ingredients like fresh seafood.
And we’re also not big drinkers, so Mexican drinks like margaritas didn’t factor into our budget. Occasionally we would pop into OXXO as Alan likes Modelo 0% and I’d pick up a can of paloma to have at the beach. I think this makes a big difference in costs.
Puerto Vallarta’s food scene delivers at every price point. You can much as much or as little as you want but overall it’s great quality if you know where to go.
Food here costs more than Puebla or Oaxaca. That’s normal for a coastal tourist city. Compared to Cancun, I’m sure Puerto Vallarta is cheaper. You can eat on a budget or spend as much as you want. The city has options for everyone.
Transportation: $70 USD
We spent $25 USD on buses and $45 USD on Uber.
Public transportation in Puerto Vallarta works really well. Buses run constantly, maybe every five minutes. They cost almost nothing. The system is easy to figure out if you’re in tourist zones or really anywhere in the city.
We took buses everywhere: Walmart, the mall, different beaches. Locals use them all the time, so you know the system works.
The $45 USD in Uber charges came from Alan’s hospital visits. Joya hospital was a bit far from our condo. I needed to go back and forth several times. In any given month without medical emergencies, we would spend maybe $20 USD on Uber.
Uber prices are reasonable in Puerto Vallarta. If it’s raining, you’re tired or you don’t want to wait for the bus, an Uber across town costs just a few dollars. Transportation was never a worry for us.
If you follow my travels you may wonder why we didn’t get a motorbike rental like we usually do. Zona Romantica and many other neighborhoods are all cobblestone. It requires an experienced driver, which Alan is, but it means rental prices are high and it wasn’t worth it as we could walk or bus everywhere.
The Wifi Situation
Inside our condo, the wifi was fantastic. Outside, our data was a disaster.
We had Telcel, supposedly the best and most expensive provider in Mexico. You could be on one street with 5G and move to the next block with no data service at all.
The agent warned us that outdoor data could be an issue. She wasn’t kidding. We had to make sure Google Maps was always downloaded to our phones offline.
I think the problem comes from all the construction happening in Puerto Vallarta right now. The city is expanding quickly. Infrastructure hasn’t caught up in all areas yet.
This rapid growth worries me a little. More people means more crowds, more noise and pressure on the city’s systems. Along the coastline there might be space for expansion. In Zona Romantica, I think it will make things less pleasant during high season.
Activities and Miscellaneous: $75 USD
This covered all the little things I couldn’t track in our bank account. Cash tips for service workers. A bottle of crazy glue to fix shoes. Random purchases without receipts.
There are some fantastic Puerto Vallarta tours at reasonable prices. Don’t forget to tip your guide.
I keep an Excel sheet and take pictures of all our receipts. But sometimes you forget. Sometimes there’s no receipt. Sometimes you tip in cash instead of adding it to the card.
Seventy five dollars covers those gaps over 30 days. It’s not much but it’s realistic.
What We Didn’t Budget: A Medical Emergency
I didn’t include this in my Puebla video but I should have. We travel in Mexico with health insurance through Safety Wing.
We pay $150 USD per month together. After Alan’s hospital scare where we spent almost 100,000 pesos in less than 12 hours, I know we need coverage.
Health insurance is not optional when you travel long term. Don’t skip it to save money for an extra margarita. Medical emergencies in Mexico can be extremely expensive even though care quality is good.
I’m actually upgrading our Safety Wing package to the higher level. It covers regular doctor visits and medical procedures that aren’t emergency based. For people not living in their home countries, this makes sense.
Healthcare Access
Puerto Vallarta has excellent medical facilities. The city has modern hospitals and clinics with English speaking staff.
When Alan needed emergency care, the hospital clinic below our condo provided amazing service. The doctors and staff were professional and thorough.
Many expats and retirees choose Puerto Vallarta specifically because of the healthcare access. You can get quality medical care at prices much lower than in the United States or Canada.
But I do think Canadians should watch my video above as I was not prepared to make medical decisions based on costs. After this situation we learned so much about public hospitals, inexpensive testing clinics and that we went to the most expensive hospital in the city!
I wrote a full post about what you need to know before visiting a hospital in Mexico.
Safety in Puerto Vallarta
People always ask about safety. We felt very safe in Puerto Vallarta.
We’re not out drinking late at night. I get up early, so I’m in bed early too. We didn’t experience the bar scene at 2 AM when problems sometimes happen.
During the day and evening, we never worried about our bags or pickpockets. Even at night with people around, we felt secure.
You should always watch your belongings no matter where you are. If you’re going out drinking heavily, maybe leave your phone at home. But general safety in Puerto Vallarta felt solid.
The city has a reputation as one of Mexico’s safer destinations for expats and tourists. Our experience matched that reputation.
Tipping Culture
Puerto Vallarta is a tourist destination. Tipping expectations reflect that.
In places like Puebla, 10% is standard. In resort towns like Cancun and Playa del Carmen, expect to pay 20%. Puerto Vallarta falls into the 20% category.
What bothered me was the tip jar at a convenience store in the bus station. I don’t tip at convenience stores. I brought my own items to the counter. That’s not a service I tip for.
I believe in helping locals and respecting good service with tips. But tip culture seems to be expanding beyond actual service. That feels out of control to me.
The Expat Community
Puerto Vallarta has one of the strongest expat networks in Mexico. Some people love this. Some people find it too much.
There are active Facebook groups for expats, digital nomads and retirees. You can find answers to almost any question. The community is huge and helpful.
Around 40,000 Americans and Canadians now call Puerto Vallarta home full time. During winter, snowbirds flood in from November through April. High season brings crowds and makes restaurant reservations necessary
Should You Choose Puerto Vallarta for Long Term Living
Puerto Vallarta works if you want modern amenities, strong expat support and easy access to North America. The city offers resort style living, excellent food and reliable infrastructure.
It’s not for people seeking authentic small town Mexico or those who want to completely immerse in Spanish language learning. Too many people speak English here. You can get by without Spanish in tourist areas.
The cost of living is more than places like Puerto Escondido, yet it is reasonable but climbing. As more expats and remote workers arrive, prices will continue rising. Property values have jumped significantly in the past few years.
Puerto Vallarta is loved by people who want comfort and convenience. The city makes daily life easy with international supermarkets, reliable services and familiar amenities.
For us, a month in Puerto Vallarta taught us it wasn’t quite the right long term fit. We loved the condo. The food was incredible. Transportation worked well. But the neighborhood noise and tourist energy didn’t match our current lifestyle.
Would we come back? Absolutely. Would we stay in Zona Romantica again? Probably not. Next time we’d choose Versalles or 5 de Diciembre for a better balance of local life and convenience. Or honestly probably much farther our into Bucerias, Lo de Marcos, Sayulita or my favourite – San Pancho.
Puerto Vallarta delivers exactly what it promises: a comfortable, safe and well connected place to live with access to beaches, mountains and modern services. Just make sure the lifestyle matches what you’re looking for before you commit long term.
The city is growing fast. That growth brings opportunities and challenges. Get here sooner rather than later if you want to experience Puerto Vallarta before it becomes even more developed and crowded.