Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Piriapolis?
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 Piriapolis or Puerto Vallarta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis 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: Piriapolis or Puerto Vallarta?
Piriapolis
Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.
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 Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico.
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Piriapolis Prices
Uruguay PricesPuerto Vallarta Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPiriapolis $81Puerto Vallarta $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $81, while the average daily cost in Puerto Vallarta is $136. 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 Piriapolis and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPiriapolis $26Puerto Vallarta $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPiriapolis $52Puerto Vallarta $122
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and Puerto Vallarta
Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis 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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Piriapolis $30Puerto Vallarta $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Airport Transfer Puerto Vallarta: $135
- Airport-Hotel Transfers: $112
- Diva Tours VIP Airport Round-Trip Transfer San Pancho-Sayulita: $280
- Mexico Private Transfer from Marina Vallarta to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) Airport: $72
- NAYARIT VIP Round Trip Transfers Airport - Bucerias - Airport: $209
- NAYARIT VIP Roundtrip Transfers Airport - Nuevo Nayarit - Airport: $74
- NAYARIT VIP Roundtrip Transfers Airport - Nuevo Vallarta Area: $69
- PVR VIP Round Trip Transfer Airport - Boca de Tomatlan - Airport: $89
- PVR VIP Round Trip Transfers Airport - Mismaloya Area - Airport: $84
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers Airport - Downtown - Airport: $59
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers Airport - Old part of Town - Airport: $54
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers Airport from South PV to Airport: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and Piriapolis 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 dayPiriapolis $38Puerto Vallarta $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
- Taco Adventure Evening Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $48
- Old Town Taco Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $49
- Versalles After Dark Food Tour with Vallarta Eats: $51
- Off The Beaten Path Food Tour, Breakfast in Pitillal: $55
- Bucerias Taco Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Vegan Food Tour in Vallarta: $59
- Winner 2026 Downtown Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- 3-Hour Guided Food Tour in Puerto Vallarta: $59
- Puerto Vallarta Guided Food Tour with 8 Locals Favorites Tastings: $65
- Seafood Lover's Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $65
- Vallarta Tales Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
- Vallarta Flavours Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Piriapolis $5.66Puerto Vallarta $18
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
- Puerto Vallarta Historical El Centro: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Tequila Tasting Tour in Nuevo Vallarta: $13
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour of Puerto Vallarta: $15
- Full-Day Puerto Vallarta City Highlights Tour: $23
- Butterfly Experience Nature Park Admission: $23
- Private Bike City Tour with Photo Session in Puerto Vallarta: $24
- Biocultural Hiking Experience in Sayulita: $27
- Colomitos Adventure with Snorkeling Playas del Sur: $27
- Butterfly Sanctuary & Museum Guided Tour in Puerto Vallarta: $28
- Day of the Dead Cemetery Walking Tour in Puerto Vallarta: $30
- Puerto Vallarta Historic Downtown Ghost and Cultural Walking Tour: $30
- Puerto Vallarta VIP Promotional Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPiriapolis $7.80Puerto Vallarta $23
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: $24
- Brewery Bus Tour from Mexico: $85
- Secret Agave Bar Crawl in Vallarta: $98
- Cachasol Tequila Tasting & Raicilla Distillery Tour: $101
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Piriapolis and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Puerto Vallarta is more expensive. And not only is Piriapolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Piriapolis Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis 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.