Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Huaraz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Huaraz or Puerto Vallarta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Huaraz and Puerto Vallarta can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Huaraz or Puerto Vallarta?
Huaraz
Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHuaraz $50Puerto Vallarta $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Huaraz is $50, while the average daily cost in Puerto Vallarta is $115. 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 Huaraz and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHuaraz $20Puerto Vallarta $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHuaraz $40Puerto Vallarta $126
Compare Hotels in Huaraz and Puerto Vallarta
Looking for a hotel in Huaraz 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: Huaraz Hotel Prices and Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Huaraz $10Puerto Vallarta $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVT) -City Center: $93
- Airport Transfer Puerto Vallarta : $135
- Arrival Transfer from Airport to Cruise Port in Puerto Vallarta: $44
- Mexico Private Transfer from Marina Vallarta to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) Airport: $55
- Nuevo Vallarta: Private Airport Transfer to South Zone 2: $48
- Nuevo Vallarta:Private Airport Transfer to North Zone 3: $51
- Private Transfer Licenciado Gustavo Airport to/fr Puerto Vallarta: $76
- Private Transfer from Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) for 4-7 people to Nayarit: $102
- Private Transfer from Puerto Vallarta Airport to Nayarit: $145
- Private Transfer from Sayulita to Guadalajara: $240
- Private transfer from Puerto Vallarta Airport - Hotel Zone: $37
- Private transfer round trip Puerto Vallarta Airport To Hotel In Luxury Vehicle: $129
Is it cheaper to fly into Huaraz or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and Huaraz 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 dayHuaraz $18Puerto Vallarta $37
Typical Food Prices in Huaraz
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:
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Lunch$5.97
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Chips$1.49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
- Dinner Tacos Food Tour: $55
- Off The Beaten Path Food Tour. Dinner in Pitillal : $55
- Puerto Vallarta 3-Hour Food Tour of Authentic Local Cuisine: $59
- Downtown Puerto Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Puerta Vallarta: Seafood Lover's Food Tour: $59
- Signature Taco and Street Food Tour in Puerto Vallarta: $65
- Vallarta by Road Food Tour: $75
- Mexican Cooking Class, Tequila Tasting & Unlimited Margaritas: $75
- Bucerias Bike and Food Tour: $90
- Mexican Cooking Class and Tequila Tasting: $96
- Sayulita Tacos and Tequila Food Tour : $99
- Cooking Class and Market Tour: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Huaraz $19Puerto Vallarta $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz
Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Climbing Gear$17
Tours and Activities in Huaraz
Here are a few actual costs in Huaraz for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Traditional Picante de Cuy Gastronomy Tour in Huaraz: $15
- 69 Lake Tour of Peru: $26
- Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Full Day Tour: $28
- Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $30
- From Huaraz || Full day tour Laguna 69 in -Cordillera Blanca: $36
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $37
- From Tour to Archeological Complex of Chavin: $38
- Ancash: Nevado pastors and puyas Raymondi Tour | Full Day |: $40
- Lake 69 Full-Day Hiking Tour from Huaraz: $40
- From Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $46
- From Chavín de Huantar fullday tour: $56
- From Llanganuco Lagoon fullday tour: $65
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
- City Tour Puerto Vallarta - Churches, Tequila Test and more: $18
- Mexico: Puerto Vallarta City Tour: $20
- Hop-On-Hop-Off City Bus Tour: $23
- Guided SUP Board Tour with Digital Photos: $23
- Private Bike City Tour with Photo Session in Puerto Vallarta: $24
- Hop On Hop Off Tour with Free Stops in Puerto Vallarta: $24
- Hike and Yoga Jungle Experience in Mexico: $30
- City Tour, Tequila and Coffee Factory Tour: $31
- EcoHike experience through the jungle, mountains and hidden beach: $31
- Zipline Canopy Tour: $37
- Puerto Vallarta Local-Style Walking tour: $41
- Why Jalisco is Mexico? Puerto Vallarta Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHuaraz $15Puerto Vallarta $24
Sample the Local Flavors in Puerto Vallarta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Puerto Vallarta:
- All you can drink Bar Crawl: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Huaraz and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Puerto Vallarta is more expensive. And not only is Huaraz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Huaraz is in South America 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 Huaraz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huaraz 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 Puerto Vallarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Vallarta than you might in Huaraz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Huaraz Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Huaraz or Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Huaraz. When comparing the sizes of Huaraz 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.