Which place is cheaper, Dayton 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 Dayton?
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 Dayton can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Puerto Vallarta or Dayton?
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.
Dayton
Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.
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 from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Puerto Vallarta Prices
Mexico PricesDayton Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Vallarta $128Dayton $368
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Vallarta is $128, while the average daily cost in Dayton is $368. 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 Dayton in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Vallarta $57Dayton $250
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Vallarta $114Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in Puerto Vallarta and Dayton
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Vallarta or Dayton? 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 and Dayton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Vallarta $17Dayton $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Puerto Vallarta Roundtrip Shuttle Airport Transfer: $32
- Sayulita hotels to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) – Private Departure Transfer : $155
- Private Transfer from Punta de Mita Area to PVR Airport: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Vallarta or Dayton?
Prices for flights to both Dayton 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 $58Dayton $105
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
- Sayulita Tacos and Tequila Food Tour : $99
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Vallarta $17Dayton -
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
- 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
- Monkey Mountain Hiking tour: $50
- Sayulita Taco Tour: $54
- Sayulita And San Pancho Beachs Tour: $64
- Canopy Tour Experience in Sayulita, Nuevo Nayarit.: $68
- Los Arcos Snorkeling Adventure, Colomitos & Las Animas Beach: $69
- Edenva Ecotourist Park in Puerto Vallarta: $69
- Monkey Mountain Hiking Tour (Includes food and fresh coconut): $70
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Paddle Pub Experience: $45
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Vallarta $22Dayton -
Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Vallarta and Dayton, we can see that Dayton 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton 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 Dayton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Vallarta or Dayton?
Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Vallarta and Dayton, 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.