Which place is cheaper, Big Pine Key or Puerto Vallarta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Vallarta or Big Pine Key?
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 Puerto Vallarta and Big Pine Key can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Puerto Vallarta or Big Pine Key?
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.
Big Pine Key
If you are yearning for a slice of paradise without the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing tourist population, the calm, turquoise waters and the untouched sands of Big Pine Key will surely do. Located 100 miles south of Miami and 30 miles north of Key West, this small community huddled in the family of Florida keys is often overlooked by many. However, Big Pine Key is truly a gem for all who seek a tropical vacation as activities like boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling are found throughout the town. Besides its oceanic wonders, Big Pine Key also boasts in containing some of the United States' best seafood restaurants. Enjoy the aquatic wonders of the Keys and stop at Big Pine Key!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Vallarta $115Big Pine Key $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Vallarta is $115, while the average daily cost in Big Pine Key is $144. 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 Puerto Vallarta and Big Pine Key in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Vallarta $63Big Pine Key $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Vallarta $126Big Pine Key $128
Compare Hotels in Puerto Vallarta and Big Pine Key
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Vallarta or Big Pine Key? 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: Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Vallarta $19Big Pine Key $56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Sayulita hotels to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) – Private Departure Transfer : $96
- Puerto Vallarta:Private Airport Transfer to Bucerias: $73
- Puerto Vallarta:Private Airport Transfer to Boca de Tomatlan: $86
- Private Airport Transfer to Romantic Zone: $48
- Private Airport Transfer to Mismaloya: $51
- Private Airport Transfer to Marina Vallarta: $37
- Private Airport Transfer to Hotel Zone: $40
- Puerto Vallarta from Cruise Port to Hotels Arrival Transfer: $44
- Puerto Vallarta Roundtrip Shuttle Airport Transfer: $32
- Puerto Vallarta Port to Puerto Vallarta Airport(PVR)-Departure Private Transfer : $44
- Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port: Transfer to Puerto Vallarta: $118
- Puerto Vallarta Airport to Hotel Private Transfer by Minivan: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Vallarta or Big Pine Key?
Prices for flights to both Big Pine Key and Puerto Vallarta 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 dayPuerto Vallarta $37Big Pine Key $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
- 3-Hour Guided Food Tour in Puerto Vallarta: $45
- Off The Beaten Path Food Tour. Dinner in Pitillal : $55
- Dinner Tacos Food Tour: $55
- Puerto Vallarta 3-Hour Food Tour of Authentic Local Cuisine: $59
- Puerta Vallarta: Seafood Lover's Food Tour: $59
- Downtown Puerto Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Seafood Lover's Tour with Vallarta Food Tours : $59
- Signature Taco and Street Food Tour in Puerto Vallarta: $65
- Mexican Cooking Class, Tequila Tasting & Unlimited Margaritas: $84
- Bucerias Bike and Food Tour: $90
- Mexican Cooking Class and Tequila Tasting: $96
- Sayulita Tacos and Tequila Food Tour : $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Vallarta $19Big Pine Key $42
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: $53
- 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
- 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: $77
- 8 hour All Inclusive Tour in Catamaran Arcos Animas Quimixto: $82
- ATV Adventure from Puerto Vallarta: $110
- ATV Adventure in Vallarta (Shared) : $125
- ATV Adventure in the Jungle Single in Puerto Vallarta: $106
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Vallarta $24Big Pine Key $9.29
Sample the Local Flavors in Puerto Vallarta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Puerto Vallarta:
- Fun Mexican Wine Tasting in Beautiful Garden of Puerto Vallarta: $40
- Brewery Bus Tour from Mexico: $85
- All you can drink Bar Crawl: $99
- Mountains Route, visiting a traditional distillery: $270
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Vallarta and Big Pine Key, we can see that Big Pine Key is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Vallarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Vallarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Vallarta 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 Big Pine Key would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Big Pine Key than you might in Puerto Vallarta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive? and Is Big Pine Key Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Vallarta or Big Pine Key?
Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Big Pine Key. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Vallarta and Big Pine Key, 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.