Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Veracruz?
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 Veracruz or Puerto Vallarta?
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 Veracruz and Puerto Vallarta can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or Puerto Vallarta?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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Veracruz Prices
Mexico PricesPuerto Vallarta Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $152Puerto Vallarta $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $152, 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 Veracruz and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $52Puerto Vallarta $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $104Puerto Vallarta $122
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and Puerto Vallarta
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz 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: Veracruz Hotel Prices and Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $27Puerto Vallarta $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $26
- Private Transfer to Veracruz Airport (VER): $26
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $44
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $52
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 Veracruz or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and Veracruz 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 dayVeracruz $82Puerto 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.Veracruz $14Puerto Vallarta $18
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
- Panoramic Sightseeing Bus City Tour of Veracruz: $8.00
- Mandinga And Boat Trip Tour: $25
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $27
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $30
- San Juan De Ulua Tour: $31
- Veracruz City Tour with San Juan de Ulúa and Mandinga Boat: $55
- Live a Kayak Experience: $85
- Full Day Tour to La Antigua, Cempoala and Quiahuiztlán: $92
- Full Day Tour to Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas with Transportation: $98
- City Tour en Veracruz y Acuario: $100
- Tour with Certified Guide to Xalapa, Xico and Coatepec: $101
- Full Day Tour to Alvarado and Tlacotalpan from Veracruz or Boca del Río: $101
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 dayVeracruz $17Puerto 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 comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Veracruz Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Puerto Vallarta?
Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Puerto Vallarta. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz 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.