Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Pereira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Pereira or Puerto Vallarta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pereira and Puerto Vallarta. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Pereira or Puerto Vallarta?
Pereira
Situated in a small valley in the western Andes, Pereira is the capital city of Risaralda, Colombia. The city is surrounded by coffee producing agriculture and sits in the middle of a triangle of cities including Bogota, Medillin and Cali, each of which is about a three to five hour drive away.
The city itself is very much student oriented, as there are many universities around town and at least one quarter of the population is made up of students. There is also a very European vibe to the city and you will find the area beautiful with many parks and museums.
Pereira's economy is based on government, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, trade, commerce, and tourism. Agricultural products include sugarcane, cacao, rubber, cereals, coffee, and livestock. Apparel is the main manufacturing product, along with aluminium goods, motorcycles and telecommunications technology.
Pereira is found in a warm moorland area with an average temperature of around 72 degrees. The temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year with highs in the high 70s Fahrenheit to low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures are usually in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Rain is heaviest during the months of April and May as well as October and November.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico.
-
Pereira Prices
Colombia PricesPuerto Vallarta Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPereira $81Puerto Vallarta $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Pereira is $81, while the average daily cost in Puerto Vallarta is $128. 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 Pereira and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPereira $26Puerto Vallarta $57
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPereira $52Puerto Vallarta $114
Compare Hotels in Pereira and Puerto Vallarta
Looking for a hotel in Pereira 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: Pereira Hotel Prices and Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pereira $20Puerto Vallarta $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:
-
Short Taxi Ride$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:
- Arrival or Departure Transfer Matecaña International Airport: $11
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
- Arrival or Departure Transfer El Éden International Airport: $42
- One way transfer Pereira to Santa Rosa Hot Springs: $88
- PEREIRA/ARMENIA: FULLDAY TRANSFER SALENTO+ FILANDIA + COCORA VALLEY: $144
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Private Transfer from Punta de Mita Area to PVR Airport: $180
- Puerto Vallarta Roundtrip Shuttle Airport Transfer: $32
- Sayulita hotels to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) – Private Departure Transfer : $155
Is it cheaper to fly into Pereira or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and Pereira 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
-
Food Meals for one dayPereira $40Puerto Vallarta $58
Typical Food Prices in Pereira
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:
-
Hamburger$1.66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
- Winner 2025 Downtown Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Mexican Cooking Class, Tequila Tasting & Unlimited Margaritas: $89
- Sayulita Tacos and Tequila Food Tour : $99
- Puerto Vallarta- Market tour and Cooking Experience : $134
- Rhythms of the night, sunset cruise, open bar & oceanfront dinner: $159
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pereira $18Puerto Vallarta $17
Tours and Activities in Pereira
Here are a few actual costs in Pereira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- PRIVATE TOUR OF MAIN SQUARES, HISTORICAL SITES + LOOKOUT POINT: $56
- Tour to hot springs of Santa Rosa from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $84
- Eco-Park Recinto del Pensamiento Tour: $84
- Manizales City Tour with Cable Car and Chipre Viewpoint : $87
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $89
- Private Tour to the Coffee Park from Pereira or Armenia: $115
- Tour Santa Rosa hot springs from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $116
- Private Tour to Salento and Cocora Valley from Pereira or Armenia: $131
- Tour to San Vicente hot springs from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $132
- Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $149
- Salento and Cócora Tour plus Coffee Farm from Pereira or Armenia: $158
- Salento, Cocora and Filandia Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $160
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
- City tour express; butterfly, tequila, and beach an ecological day: $22
- EcoHike experience through the jungle, mountains and hidden beach: $30
- Puerto Vallarta VIP Promotional Tour: $30
- Hike and Yoga Jungle Experience in Mexico: $30
- Beachfront Massage Experience in Mismaloya: $42
- Puerto Vallarta City Tour with a Visit to our Adventure Park: $45
- Boat and Snorkel Tour to 5 Islands of Los Arcos: $46
- Monkey Mountain Hiking tour: $50
- Sayulita Taco Tour: $54
- Sayulita And San Pancho Beachs Tour: $64
- Bioluminescence & sunset local boat tour to Los Arcos Sanctuary: $67
- Canopy Tour Experience in Sayulita, Nuevo Nayarit.: $68
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPereira $14Puerto Vallarta $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pereira and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Puerto Vallarta is more expensive. And not only is Pereira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pereira 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 Pereira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pereira 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 Pereira.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pereira Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pereira or Puerto Vallarta?
Pereira has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Puerto Vallarta. When comparing the sizes of Pereira 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.