Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata and Puerto Vallarta can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Puerto Vallarta?
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.
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 Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $8.78Puerto Vallarta $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, 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 Mar del Plata and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15Puerto Vallarta $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30Puerto Vallarta $126
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Puerto Vallarta
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50Puerto Vallarta $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Private Transfer from Sayulita to Guadalajara: $240
- Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR): Transfer to Puerto Vallarta: $209
- Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to Sayulita hotels - Private Roundtrip Transfer: $192
- Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to Puerto Vallarta - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $153
- Private Transfer from Puerto Vallarta Airport to Nayarit: $145
- Airport Transfer Puerto Vallarta : $135
- Private transfer round trip Puerto Vallarta Airport To Hotel In Luxury Vehicle: $129
- Puerto Vallarta Airp.(PVR): Transfer to Puerto Vallarta Port: $118
- Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port: Transfer to Puerto Vallarta: $118
- Private Transfer from Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) for 4-7 people to Nayarit: $102
- Sayulita hotels to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) – Private Departure Transfer : $96
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVT) -City Center: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and Mar del Plata 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 dayMar del Plata $3.81Puerto Vallarta $37
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.Mar del Plata $2.27Puerto Vallarta $19
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
- 3-hr ATV Mountian Exclusive Tour to Sierra Madre: $65
- Snorkel Adventure at Majahuitas Beach: $54
- Zip Line Adventure in the heights in Puerto Vallarta 10 zip lines: $66
- 2 Hour and 30 Minutes Walking Tour in 5 De Diciembre: $45
- 2 Hours Catamaran Sunset Tour: $99
- 3-Hour Exclusive Guided RZR Adventure Sierra Madre Mountains Tour: $125
- 360 Puerto Vallarta City Tour with Lunch: $65
- 4 Hour Surf Experience in Corral Del Risco: $75
- 8 hour All Inclusive Tour in Catamaran Arcos Animas Quimixto: $78
- 8 hour All Inclusive Tour in Catamaran Arcos Animas Quimixto: $82
- ATV Adventure from Puerto Vallarta: $110
- ATV Adventure in Puerto Vallarta (Single): $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.78Puerto 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 Mar del Plata and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Puerto Vallarta is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Puerto Vallarta?
Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Puerto Vallarta. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata 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.