Earn Here, Spend ThereWhat is this money worth over there?
Compare cities โบ Playa del Carmen vs Puerto Vallarta
Playa del Carmen vs Puerto Vallarta cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated September 2026
๐ฒ๐ฝ Playa del Carmen
๐ฒ๐ฝ Puerto VallartaPuerto Vallarta is 13% cheaper than Playa del Carmen
Living on $3,728 a month in Playa del Carmen feels like about $3,248 in Puerto Vallarta โ same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$223 vs $193
Per month
$3,728 vs $3,248
Local meal
MX$ 180 vs MX$ 150
$9.68 vs $8.06
Taxi 5 km
MX$ 120 vs MX$ 130
$6.45 vs $6.99
At a glance
FoodPuerto Vallarta 19% cheaper
Cafรฉs & drinksPuerto Vallarta 11% cheaper
Transportsimilar
StayPuerto Vallarta 12% cheaper
FunPuerto Vallarta 12% cheaper
- Where Puerto Vallarta is clearly cheaper: Restaurant dinner (25%โ), Entry ticket (24%โ), Coffee (20%โ)
Item by item
| Item | Playa del Carmen | Puerto Vallarta | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | MX$ 180$9.68 | MX$ 150$8.06 | Puerto Vallarta โ17% |
| Street food1 item | MX$ 81$4.35 | MX$ 68$3.66 | Puerto Vallarta โ16% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | MX$ 550$29.6 | MX$ 410$22 | Puerto Vallarta โ25% |
| Coffeeone cup | MX$ 70$3.76 | MX$ 56$3.01 | Puerto Vallarta โ20% |
| Beerone bottle | MX$ 70$3.76 | MX$ 65$3.49 | Puerto Vallarta โ7% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | MX$ 180$9.68 | MX$ 170$9.14 | Puerto Vallarta โ6% |
| Bottled water | MX$ 18$0.97 | MX$ 18$0.97 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | MX$ 45$2.42 | MX$ 45$2.42 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | MX$ 120$6.45 | MX$ 130$6.99 | Playa del Carmen โ8% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | MX$ 80$4.3 | MX$ 86$4.62 | Playa del Carmen โ7% |
| Transitone ride | MX$ 15$0.81 | MX$ 13$0.7 | Puerto Vallarta โ13% |
| Scooter rentalper day | MX$ 500$26.9 | MX$ 530$28.5 | Playa del Carmen โ6% |
| Hotel night3-star | MX$ 2,500$134 | MX$ 2,200$118 | Puerto Vallarta โ12% |
| Studio rent (month) | MX$ 17,000$914 | MX$ 15,000$806 | Puerto Vallarta โ12% |
| Laundry | MX$ 40$2.15 | MX$ 37$1.99 | Puerto Vallarta โ8% |
| SIM card1 week data | MX$ 200$10.8 | MX$ 190$10.2 | similar |
| Haircutcut | MX$ 240$12.9 | MX$ 220$11.8 | Puerto Vallarta โ8% |
| Massage1 hour | MX$ 700$37.6 | MX$ 640$34.4 | Puerto Vallarta โ9% |
| Half-day tourper person | MX$ 900$48.4 | MX$ 860$46.2 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | MX$ 250$13.4 | MX$ 190$10.2 | Puerto Vallarta โ24% |
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, Playa del Carmen or Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta is 13% cheaper than Playa del Carmen. Daily budget $223 vs $193; a month $3,728 vs $3,248.
How do monthly costs compare between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Playa del Carmen is about $3,728 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.