Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Punta del Este?
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 Punta del Este or Puerto Vallarta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este 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: Punta del Este or Puerto Vallarta?
Punta del Este
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico.
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Punta del Este Prices
Uruguay PricesPuerto Vallarta Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta del Este $116Puerto Vallarta $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $116, 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 Punta del Este and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta del Este $52Puerto Vallarta $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta del Este $104Puerto Vallarta $122
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and Puerto Vallarta
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este 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: Punta del Este Hotel Prices and Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta del Este $21Puerto Vallarta $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60
- Private Transfer - Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Punta Del Este Port: $115
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $166
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $166
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Special Art Icons Tour: $185
- Bodega Garzon Wine Experience with Private Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport MVD: $273
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Montevideo hotels: $273
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Puerto Vallarta Airport to Hotel Private Transfer by Minivan: $288
- Diva Tours VIP Airport Round-Trip Transfer San Pancho-Sayulita: $280
- Private Roundtrip Transfer Airport Hotel or Airbnb up to 12px: $245
- NAYARIT VIP Round Trip Transfers Airport - Bucerias - Airport: $209
- Privat Transfer from Puerto Vallarta Airport PVR to Punta de Mita: $183
- Private Airport Transfers across Bahía de Banderas: $150
- Puerto Vallarta Port to Puerto Vallarta RoundTripPrivate Transfer: $143
- Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to Puerto Vallarta Port-RoundTrip Private Transfer: $142
- Private Transfer from PVR to Puerto Vallarta / Punta de Mita / Sayulita: $140
- Punta de Mita to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) - Private Departure Transfer: $139
- Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to Punta de Mita hotels - Private Arrival Transfer: $139
- Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to Puerto Vallarta - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $138
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and Punta del Este 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 dayPunta del Este $51Puerto 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.Punta del Este $10Puerto Vallarta $18
Tours and Activities in Punta del Este
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
- City Highlights and Hidden Gems Guided Tour: $10
- Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $19
- Guided Tour of Vineyards: $33
- Punta del Este Classic City Tour with Sunset at Casapueblo: $40
- Punta del Este Full-Day Guided Tour: $43
- Discovering Half-Day City Tour: $47
- Punta del Este City Tour for Cruisers: $50
- Punta del Este Sightseeing Tour: $50
- Punta del Este, City Tour: $50
- Shore Excursion for Cruisers: $59
- Punta del Este Shore Tour for Cruise Passengers: $59
- From Montevideo: Punta del Este Full-Day City Tour: $62
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
- 1/2 Day Puerto Vallarta Botanical Garden tour: $60
- 2 Hour Private Surfing Experience in Puerto Vallarta: $99
- 2 Hours Catamaran Sunset Tour: $99
- ATV Adventure in Puerto Vallarta (Single): $107
- ATV Jorullo Bridge Tour: $174
- ATV Jungle and River Adventure in Puerto Vallarta (3.5 Hours): $166
- ATV Single Jungle Adventure-Waterfalls, Tequila & Local Culture": $107
- ATV Tour: $129
- ATV Tour Rio Cuale Sierra Madre Mountains and tequila tasting: $77
- ATV Tour in Puerto Vallarta, waterfall and tequila tasting.: $104
- ATV and RZR Jorullo Bridge Experience in Puerto Vallarta: $169
- ATV, Zipline and Horse Back Riding Experience: $235
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta del Este $7.41Puerto Vallarta $23
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
- Wine Tasting: $42
- Wine Lovers - Fun Wine Tasting outside Punta del Este!: $199
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 Punta del Este and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Puerto Vallarta is more expensive. And not only is Punta del Este much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta del Este 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 Punta del Este would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta del Este 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 Punta del Este.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta del Este Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este 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.