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Compare cities › Puerto Vallarta vs San Cristóbal de las Casas
Puerto Vallarta vs San Cristóbal de las Casas cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇲🇽 Puerto Vallarta
🇲🇽 San Cristóbal de las CasasSan Cristóbal de las Casas is 47% cheaper than Puerto Vallarta
Living on $3,577 a month in Puerto Vallarta feels like about $1,817 in San Cristóbal de las Casas — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Cheaper on how many of 20 items?
Puerto Vallarta 1tie 1San Cristóbal de las Casas 18
One day's budget in Puerto Vallarta ($169) lasts 1.8 days in San Cristóbal de las Casas
Compare on YOUR lifestyleSet your rent, eating out, coffee & taxis — see your real monthly difference · free
›
Per day
$169 vs $94.1
Per month
$3,577 vs $1,817
Local meal
MX$ 200 vs MX$ 100
$10.8 vs $5.38
Taxi 5 km
MX$ 100 vs MX$ 70
$5.38 vs $3.76
At a glance
FoodSan Cristóbal de las Casas 45% cheaper
Cafés & drinksSan Cristóbal de las Casas 32% cheaper
TransportSan Cristóbal de las Casas 23% cheaper
StaySan Cristóbal de las Casas 48% cheaper
FunSan Cristóbal de las Casas 14% cheaper
- Where San Cristóbal de las Casas is clearly cheaper: Half-day tour (62%↓), Scooter rental (58%↓), Cocktail & wine (53%↓)
- Where Puerto Vallarta is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (33%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Enter a monthly income in Puerto Vallarta to see what gives the same standard of living in San Cristóbal de las Casas. Starts at the average Puerto Vallarta salary.
Travel difficulty
Puerto Vallarta
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Overall
Moderate2.4
Hard3.0
Rip-offs & haggling
3
3
Language
2
3
Getting around
2
3
Payments
2
3
Safety
3
3
Puerto Vallarta is easier to travel (2.4 vs 3.0). Biggest gap: language — Puerto Vallarta 2 vs San Cristóbal de las Casas 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Puerto Vallarta | San Cristóbal de las Casas | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | MX$ 200$10.8 | MX$ 100$5.38 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −50% |
| Street food1 item | MX$ 70$3.76 | MX$ 45$2.42 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −36% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | MX$ 480$25.8 | MX$ 250$13.4 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −48% |
| Coffeeone cup | MX$ 75$4.03 | MX$ 50$2.69 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −33% |
| Beerone bottle | MX$ 50$2.69 | MX$ 45$2.42 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −10% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | MX$ 150$8.06 | MX$ 70$3.76 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −53% |
| Bottled water | MX$ 16$0.86 | MX$ 14$0.75 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −12% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | MX$ 25$1.34 | MX$ 22$1.18 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −12% |
| Taxi5 km in town | MX$ 100$5.38 | MX$ 70$3.76 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −30% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | MX$ 70$3.76 | MX$ 50$2.69 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −29% |
| Transitone ride | MX$ 11$0.59 | MX$ 10$0.54 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −9% |
| Scooter rentalper day | MX$ 600$32.3 | MX$ 250$13.4 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −58% |
| Hotel night3-star | MX$ 1,600$86 | MX$ 900$48.4 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −44% |
| Studio rent (month) | MX$ 16,000$860 | MX$ 7,500$403 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −53% |
| Laundry | MX$ 30$1.61 | MX$ 28$1.51 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −7% |
| SIM card1 week data | MX$ 200$10.8 | MX$ 200$10.8 | similar |
| Haircutcut | MX$ 180$9.68 | MX$ 120$6.45 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −33% |
| Massage1 hour | MX$ 650$34.9 | MX$ 450$24.2 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −31% |
| Half-day tourper person | MX$ 1,200$64.5 | MX$ 450$24.2 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −62% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | MX$ 200$10.8 | MX$ 300$16.1 | Puerto Vallarta −33% |
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%+.
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FAQ
Which is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or San Cristóbal de las Casas?
San Cristóbal de las Casas is 47% cheaper than Puerto Vallarta. Daily budget $169 vs $94.1; a month $3,577 vs $1,817.
Which is easier to travel, Puerto Vallarta or San Cristóbal de las Casas?
Puerto Vallarta is easier: Puerto Vallarta 2.4/5 vs San Cristóbal de las Casas 3.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Puerto Vallarta and San Cristóbal de las Casas?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Puerto Vallarta is about $3,577 and San Cristóbal de las Casas about $1,817 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.
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