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Compare cities › Cancún vs Puerto Vallarta
Cancún vs Puerto Vallarta cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇲🇽 Cancún
🇲🇽 Puerto VallartaPuerto Vallarta is 17% cheaper than Cancún
Living on $3,708 a month in Cancún feels like about $3,248 in Puerto Vallarta — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$247 vs $193
Per month
$3,708 vs $3,248
Local meal
MX$ 200 vs MX$ 150
$10.8 vs $8.06
Taxi 5 km
MX$ 130 vs MX$ 130
$6.99 vs $6.99
At a glance
FoodPuerto Vallarta 27% cheaper
Cafés & drinksPuerto Vallarta 21% cheaper
Transportsimilar
StayPuerto Vallarta 14% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Puerto Vallarta is clearly cheaper: Restaurant dinner (32%↓), Coffee (25%↓), Local meal (25%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Cancún | Puerto Vallarta | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | MX$ 200$10.8 | MX$ 150$8.06 | Puerto Vallarta −25% |
| Street food1 item | MX$ 90$4.84 | MX$ 68$3.66 | Puerto Vallarta −24% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | MX$ 600$32.3 | MX$ 410$22 | Puerto Vallarta −32% |
| Coffeeone cup | MX$ 75$4.03 | MX$ 56$3.01 | Puerto Vallarta −25% |
| Beerone bottle | MX$ 80$4.3 | MX$ 65$3.49 | Puerto Vallarta −19% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | MX$ 210$11.3 | MX$ 170$9.14 | Puerto Vallarta −19% |
| Bottled water | MX$ 18$0.97 | MX$ 18$0.97 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | MX$ 45$2.42 | MX$ 45$2.42 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | MX$ 130$6.99 | MX$ 130$6.99 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | MX$ 86$4.62 | MX$ 86$4.62 | similar |
| Transitone ride | MX$ 15$0.81 | MX$ 13$0.7 | Puerto Vallarta −13% |
| Scooter rentalper day | MX$ 530$28.5 | MX$ 530$28.5 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | MX$ 2,800$151 | MX$ 2,200$118 | Puerto Vallarta −21% |
| Studio rent (month) | MX$ 16,000$860 | MX$ 15,000$806 | Puerto Vallarta −6% |
| Laundry | MX$ 43$2.31 | MX$ 37$1.99 | Puerto Vallarta −14% |
| SIM card1 week data | MX$ 210$11.3 | MX$ 190$10.2 | Puerto Vallarta −10% |
| Haircutcut | MX$ 220$11.8 | MX$ 220$11.8 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | MX$ 640$34.4 | MX$ 640$34.4 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | MX$ 860$46.2 | MX$ 860$46.2 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | MX$ 210$11.3 | MX$ 190$10.2 | Puerto Vallarta −10% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cancún or Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta is 17% cheaper than Cancún. Daily budget $247 vs $193; a month $3,708 vs $3,248.
How do monthly costs compare between Cancún and Puerto Vallarta?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Cancún is about $3,708 and Puerto Vallarta about $3,248 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.