Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Puerto Vallarta?
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 Puerto Vallarta or Bonaire?
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 Bonaire can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Puerto Vallarta or Bonaire?
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.
Bonaire
An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico.
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Puerto Vallarta Prices
Mexico PricesBonaire Prices
Caribbean Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Vallarta $136Bonaire $299
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Vallarta is $136, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. 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 Bonaire in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Vallarta $61Bonaire $155
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Vallarta $122Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Puerto Vallarta and Bonaire
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Vallarta or Bonaire? 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 $18Bonaire $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Puerto Vallarta Roundtrip Shuttle Airport Transfer: $32
- Private Transfer to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR): $35
- Private Transfer from Puerto Vallarta Port to Puerto Vallarta: $55
- Private Transfer from Puerto Vallarta to Puerto Vallarta Port: $55
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers Airport - Downtown - Airport: $59
- Puerto Vallarta Airport to Hotel Private Transfer by Minivan: $67
- Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to Puerto Vallarta-Arrival Transfer: $68
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers Airport - Zona Romantica - Airport: $69
- Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to Puerto Vallarta Port Transfer: $70
- Puerto Vallarta Port to Puerto Vallarta Airport(PVR)-Departure Private Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Puerto Vallarta Airport(PVR): $70
- Mexico Private Transfer from Marina Vallarta to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) Airport: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:
- Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address: $40
- Airport Transfer Return Included: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Vallarta or Bonaire?
Prices for flights to both Bonaire 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 $61Bonaire $101
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
- Old Town Taco Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $44
- Ultimate Taco Tour in Puerto Vallarta with Vallarta Food Tours: $47
- Taste of Pitillal Food Tour by Vallarta Food Tours: $50
- 3-Hour Guided Food Tour in Puerto Vallarta: $59
- Bucerias Morning Food Tour: Secrets of a Local Guide: $59
- Winner 2026 Downtown Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Bucerias Taco Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Puerto Vallarta Guided Food Tour with 8 Locals Favorites Tastings: $65
- Vallarta Flavours Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
- Vallarta by Road Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $85
- Bucerias Bike and Food Tour: $90
- Mexican Cooking Class & Unlimited Margaritas: $93
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bonaire.
- Dinner at Sea: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Vallarta $18Bonaire $40
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
- Tequila Tasting Tour in Nuevo Vallarta: $8.00
- City tour express, Butterfly, tequila, river and beach: $12
- Puerto Vallarta Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $13
- Butterfly Experience Nature Park Admission: $23
- Private Bike City Tour with Photo Session in Puerto Vallarta: $23
- Biocultural Hiking Experience in Sayulita: $27
- Colomitos Adventure with Snorkeling Playas del Sur: $27
- Full-Day Puerto Vallarta City Highlights Tour: $29
- Hike and Yoga Jungle Experience in Mexico: $30
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding Adventure in Puerto Vallarta: $38
- Los Arcos Snorkeling & 5 Island Adventure: $39
- Puerto Vallarta City Night Tour: $43
Tours and Activities in Bonaire
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:
- Semi Submarine Boat Experience to Klein Bonaire: $33
- Walking Tours & Private Tours on Bonaire: $36
- 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
- Half-Day Bonaire Island Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $46
- Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
- Walking Tour with Lunch & Ice Cream: $55
- Yacht tour with local guide & snorkeling activities: $57
- Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak & Snorkel tour: $59
- Highlights of Bonaire & Cultural Experience: $59
- Tour in North and South Bonaire Guided: $63
- Explore North & South Tour: $65
- Small-Group Guided North & South Tour of Bonaire with Pick Up: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Vallarta $23Bonaire $33
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
- Brewery Bus Tour from Mexico: $85
- Secret Agave Bar Crawl in Vallarta: $98
- Cachasol Tequila Tasting & Raicilla Distillery Tour: $106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Vallarta and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Vallarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Vallarta is in North America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire 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 Bonaire Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Vallarta or Bonaire?
Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Vallarta and Bonaire, 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.