Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Aqaba or Puerto Vallarta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Puerto Vallarta, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Aqaba or Puerto Vallarta?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta remains a popular tourist destination with Americans, particularly during spring break when students flock to the area. The area is quite beautiful and has many gorgeous beaches, interesting jungles and waterfalls nearby, and no shortage of luxury resorts and four star restaurants. Many of the locals speak English and are friendly and open to helping tourists with directions or general information. Puerto Vallarta's popularity means that its prices are some of the highest in Mexico, particularly during holidays when the area can get quite crowded.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico.
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Aqaba Prices
Jordan PricesPuerto Vallarta Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $157Puerto Vallarta $130
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Puerto Vallarta is $130. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Aqaba and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Puerto Vallarta $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Puerto Vallarta $116
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Puerto Vallarta
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Puerto Vallarta? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Puerto Vallarta $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay: $25
- King Hussein Int Airport Transfers One Way to Aqaba: $25
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $27
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Arava Border: $27
- Aqaba Hussein Airport (AQJ) to Aqaba - Arrival Private Transfer: $30
- Aqaba to Aqaba Hussein Airport (AQJ) - Departure Private Transfer: $30
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Tala bay Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $33
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Tala Bay Hotels: $33
- Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Aqaba: $35
- Private Transfers from Aqaba Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $47
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Cruise Port to Aqaba hotels: $47
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Port to King Hussein Airport (AQJ): $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Airport Transfer Puerto Vallarta: $135
- Airport-Hotel Transfers: $106
- Diva Tours VIP Airport Round-Trip Transfer San Pancho-Sayulita: $280
- NAYARIT VIP Roundtrip Transfers Airport - Nuevo Nayarit - Airport: $79
- PVR VIP Round Trip Transfer Airport - Boca de Tomatlan - Airport: $109
- PVR VIP Round Trip Transfers Airport - Mismaloya Area - Airport: $94
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers - Airport - Marina hotels - Airport: $54
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers - Airport - Zona Hotelera - Airport: $64
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers Airport - Zona Romantica - Airport: $79
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers Airport from South PV to Airport: $84
- Privat Transfer from Puerto Vallarta Airport PVR to Punta de Mita: $176
- Private AC Airport Transfer to Sayulita: $200
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and Aqaba change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAqaba $73Puerto Vallarta $59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Traditional Bedouin Cooking Experience in the Desert: $50
- Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner: $80
- "Wadi Rum Jeep Tour + Bedouin Camp & Dinner Under the Stars: $80
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $80
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $107
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
- Ultimate Taco Tour in Puerto Vallarta with Vallarta Food Tours: $55
- Winner 2026 Downtown Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Bucerias Taco Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Taco102 - dinner taco walk - all inclusive: $63
- Puerto Vallarta Guided Food Tour with 8 Locals Favorites Tastings: $65
- Vallarta Tales Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
- 6 Course Tasting Dinner in Puerto Vallarta Layla Restaurante: $75
- Puerto Vallarta Evening Cooking Class: Tacos, Margaritas &Churros: $78
- Versalles de Noche Dinner Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $79
- Vallarta by Road Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $85
- Live Mexican Cooking Class with Local Chef: $89
- Puerto Vallarta Market Tour, Cooking Class & Tequila Tasting: $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Puerto Vallarta $17
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Aqaba Local Tour: $28
- 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $30
- Wadi Rum Half-day Jeep Tour incl. sandboard, water & Bedouin tea: $30
- Aqaba Walking Tour : History ,Culture & Food: $30
- Stargazing Adventure in Jordan: $30
- Aqaba Local Food, Market & Culture Walking Tour: $30
- Glass-Bottom Boat 2-hours Tour and Coral-Reef Viewing from Aqaba: $30
- Half-Day Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum with Sandboarding & Sunset: $33
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
- Wadi Rum 3 hours sunset Jeep 4x4 Tour: $35
- Wadi Rum 4 hours morning tour or sunset tour Desert Highlights: $36
- Wadi Rum 4-Hour Sunset Tour - Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $37
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
- Tequila Tasting Tour in Nuevo Vallarta: $8.00
- Puerto Vallarta Historical El Centro: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Puerto Vallarta City Tour: Malecon, Mismaloya & Tequila Tasting: $14
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour of Puerto Vallarta: $15
- Butterfly Experience Nature Park Admission: $22
- City tour express, Butterfly, tequila, river and beach (free kids): $22
- Private Bike City Tour with Photo Session in Puerto Vallarta: $22
- Puerto Vallarta Historic Downtown Ghost and Cultural Walking Tour: $28
- Day of the Dead Cemetery Walking Tour in Puerto Vallarta: $28
- Butterfly Sanctuary & Museum Guided Tour in Puerto Vallarta: $28
- Full-Day Puerto Vallarta City Highlights Tour: $29
- Puerto Vallarta VIP Promotional Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Puerto Vallarta $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Puerto Vallarta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Puerto Vallarta:
- Puerto Vallarta Pub Crawl: $22
- Premium Tequila Tasting Puerto Vallarta Distillery: $28
- Mexican Wine Tasting Experience: $50
- Mexican Wine Tasting & Aroma Sensory Experience: $60
- Brewery Bus Tour from Mexico: $85
- Cachasol Tequila Tasting & Raicilla Distillery Tour: $90
- Secret Agave Bar Crawl in Vallarta: $98
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Vallarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Puerto Vallarta is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Puerto Vallarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Vallarta and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba than you might in Puerto Vallarta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 97% larger than the population of Aqaba. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Puerto Vallarta, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.