Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Copacabana?
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 Copacabana or Puerto Vallarta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Copacabana and Puerto Vallarta. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Copacabana or Puerto Vallarta?
Copacabana
Copacabana, Bolivia, is a small, bright and enchanting town located on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Situated relatively close to the capital of La Paz, it is a popular resort mostly destination for foreign travellers, meaning that you may feel like there are more Argentinians and Americans than locals. Copacabana is the perfect jump-off point for visiting Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna and makes a pleasant stopover between La Paz and Puno or Cusco. Featuring beautiful nature walks, ancient sites, stunning sunsets and quaint little restaurants, Copacabana is a travelers' favorite destination to soak in the panoramic views, savor freshly caught trucha, and explore what the Incas believed to be the birthplace of their empire.
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 Budget Tours to Bolivia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico.
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Copacabana Prices
Bolivia PricesPuerto Vallarta Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCopacabana $54Puerto Vallarta $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Copacabana is $54, while the average daily cost in Puerto Vallarta is $128. 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 Copacabana and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCopacabana $11Puerto Vallarta $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCopacabana $22Puerto Vallarta $114
Compare Hotels in Copacabana and Puerto Vallarta
Looking for a hotel in Copacabana 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: Copacabana Hotel Prices and Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Copacabana $14Puerto Vallarta $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Private Transfer from Punta de Mita Area to PVR Airport: $180
- Puerto Vallarta Roundtrip Shuttle Airport Transfer: $32
- Sayulita hotels to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) – Private Departure Transfer : $155
Is it cheaper to fly into Copacabana or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and Copacabana 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 dayCopacabana $30Puerto Vallarta $58
Typical Food Prices in Copacabana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Copacabana:
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Lunch$3.61
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Sandwich$1.16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
- Winner 2025 Downtown Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Mexican Cooking Class, Tequila Tasting & Unlimited Margaritas: $89
- Sayulita Tacos and Tequila Food Tour : $99
- Puerto Vallarta- Market tour and Cooking Experience : $134
- Rhythms of the night, sunset cruise, open bar & oceanfront dinner: $159
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Copacabana $19Puerto Vallarta $17
Tours and Activities in Copacabana
Here are a few actual costs in Copacabana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Titicaca Touristic Bus from Copacabana to La Paz_Everyday_1:00 p.m.: $12
- From La Paz: Cable car ride tour with tasting food.: $49
- CONDORIRI Mountain 5650m. 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT. TREKKING. English guide. Shared Tour: $198
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
- Puerto Vallarta VIP Promotional Tour: $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
- Boat and Snorkel Tour to 5 Islands of Los Arcos: $46
- Monkey Mountain Hiking tour: $50
- Sayulita Taco Tour: $54
- Sayulita And San Pancho Beachs Tour: $64
- Bioluminescence & sunset local boat tour to Los Arcos Sanctuary: $67
- Canopy Tour Experience in Sayulita, Nuevo Nayarit.: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCopacabana $12Puerto Vallarta $22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Copacabana
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Copacabana from other travelers:
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Wine$2.89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Copacabana and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Puerto Vallarta is more expensive. And not only is Copacabana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Copacabana 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 Copacabana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Copacabana 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 Copacabana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Copacabana Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Copacabana or Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Copacabana. When comparing the sizes of Copacabana 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.