Should you visit Merida or Puerto Vallarta?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Puerto Vallarta, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Merida
Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It is also the capital of the state of Yucatan as a whole. There is a population of 750,000 and is very rich in diversity and culture.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Merida?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $58, while the average daily cost in Puerto Vallarta is $75. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Merida and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Merida can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $29, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $58.
Puerto Vallarta's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $84. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $42.
Food
Food in Merida costs travelers about $19 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The price of a meal in Puerto Vallarta can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $24 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $9.60 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Merida $19
Puerto Vallarta $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Traveling Spoon Yucatecan Sopa de Lima Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Merida Market Tour and Cooking Class:
$69
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Private Yucatecan Cooking Lesson in a Local Merida Home:
$70
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Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit:
$77
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Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Merida with Transfers:
$95
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Merida Cooking, Pottery, Classes Tour~Also An Accessible Tour:
$99
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Wonders of the Mayab: Chichen Itza, Yokdzonot Cenote & Cooking Class:
$176
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
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Taco102 - dinner taco walk - all inclusive:
$45
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Go Off The Beaten Path with a Foodie | Food Tour in Pitillal:
$50
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Food Tour after Sunset in Pitillal:
$50
-
Signature Taco and Street Food Tour in Puerto Vallarta:
$55
-
Downtown Puerto Vallarta Food Tour:
$55
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Taste of Pitillal Food Tour:
$55
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Food Tour in Old Town with a Foodie & Photographer:
$55
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Mole & Pozole Food Tour:
$57
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Vallarta by Road Food Tour:
$68
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Authentic Jaliscan Cooking Class with a Local Helene in a Traditional Hacienda:
$77
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Tasting Vallarta Gourmet Food Tour:
$88
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Puerto Vallarta Cooking Class: Market Tour, Lesson and Tastings:
$90
Local Transportation
Merida's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $12 per person, per day on transportation in Merida.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $13 per day to get around in Puerto Vallarta.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Merida Airport to Hotels:
$12
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Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Merida Airport:
$12
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Merida hotels to Mérida International Airport (MID) - Private Departure Transfer:
$36
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Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Arrival Private Transfer:
$36
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotels to Merida Airport:
$38
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Merida Airport to Hotels:
$38
-
Mexico Private Transfer from Merida airport to central Merida:
$46
-
Mexico Private Transfer from Merida hotels to Merida airport:
$46
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BEST PRICE Merida City one-way transfer Hotel Airport.:
$50
-
Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Roundtrip Private Transfer:
$72
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BEST PRICE Merida City round-trip transfer. Hotel Airport.:
$100
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Transfer: MERIDA - CHIQUILA (HOLBOX ISLAND) or CHIQUILA (HOLBOX ISLAND) - MERIDA:
$235
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
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Transfer in private minivan from Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to City Center:
$91
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Transfer in private minivan from City Center to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR):
$91
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Transfer in Private Car from Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to City Center:
$47
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Transfer in Private Car from City Center to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR):
$47
-
Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Puerto Vallarta International Airport:
$36
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Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Puerto Vallarta International Airport:
$18
-
Shared Arrival Transfer: Puerto Vallarta International Airport to Hotel:
$18
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Roundtrip transfer private minivan from-to Airport(PVR)-PuertoVallarta (sur):
$209
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Round trip transfer private minivan from-to Puerto Vallarta Airport-City Center:
$182
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Round trip transfer Private Car from-to Puerto Vallarta Airport-PVR-Punta Mita:
$240
-
Round trip transfer Private Car from-to Puerto Vallarta Airport-PVR-City Center:
$94
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Puerto Vallarta to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) - Private Departure Transfer:
$46
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and Merida 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Merida can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $11 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $12 per person, per day in Puerto Vallarta. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Typical Entertainment prices in Merida
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Merida's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Turibus Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of Merida:
$6.00
-
Chichen Itza, The greatness of the Mayas: Creation legends Tour:
$6.99
-
TuriCervecero Merida - Tasting Tour and Craft Beer Experience:
$21
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Guided Walking Tour in Merida:
$25
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Mérida Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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Panoramic Sightseeing Merida City Tour:
$36
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Merida Sightseeing Tour:
$37
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Merida Cantinas Walking Tour with Beer and Snacks:
$49
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Merida Street Food Walking Tour:
$51
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Tour Cenotes Santa Bárbara:
$62
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Local market Tour - Culinary Experience:
$62
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Small Group Cenotes Adventure and Family Lunch Tour:
$64
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
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14 Passenger Vallarta Private City Tour:
$380
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8 Passenger Vallarta Private City Tour:
$280
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ATV Adventure Tour in Puerto Vallarta Including Tequila Tasting:
$76
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ATV Adventure from Puerto Vallarta:
$85
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ATV Adventure in Puerto Vallarta (Single):
$76
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ATV Adventure in Vallarta (Shared):
$92
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ATV Adventure in the Jungle - Shared:
$92
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ATV Adventure in the Jungle Single in Puerto Vallarta:
$78
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ATV Experience Adventure (Single):
$77
-
ATV Experience in Puerto Vallarta (Single):
$77
-
ATV Tour Jungle Adventure for Single Rider:
$85
-
ATV and Zipline Adventure Combo Tour with Tequila Tasting:
$230
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Merida spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $16 on alcoholic beverages in Puerto Vallarta per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Puerto Vallarta is more expensive. And not only is Merida much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Merida would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merida 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 Merida.
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