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 $143Puerto Vallarta $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $143, 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 Veracruz and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $49Puerto Vallarta $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $98Puerto Vallarta $114
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 $26Puerto Vallarta $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $18
- Private Transfer to Veracruz Airport (VER): $18
- Shared Arrival Transfer: General Heriberto Jara International Airport to Veracruz Hotels: $23
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $37
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $42
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
- Sayulita hotels to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) – Private Departure Transfer : $155
- Puerto Vallarta Roundtrip Shuttle Airport Transfer: $32
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 $78Puerto Vallarta $58
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.Veracruz $13Puerto Vallarta $17
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
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $23
- Mandinga And Boat Trip Tour: $24
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $25
- San Juan De Ulua Tour: $26
- Veracruz City Tour with San Juan de Ulúa and Mandinga Boat: $46
- Live a Kayak Experience: $85
- Full Day Tour to La Antigua, Cempoala and Quiahuiztlán: $87
- Full Day Tour to Alvarado and Tlacotalpan from Veracruz or Boca del Río: $92
- Full Day Tour to Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas with Transportation: $92
- Tour with Certified Guide to Xalapa, Xico and Coatepec: $95
- Full Day Coffee Guided Tour in Coatepec: $98
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
- Sayulita Minivan Transportation Service Tour: $165
- ATV Tour Rio Cuale Sierra Madre Mountains and tequila tasting: $73
- ATV and RZR Jorullo Bridge Experience in Puerto Vallarta: $167
- Beachfront Massage Experience in Mismaloya: $42
- Bioluminescence & sunset local boat tour to Los Arcos Sanctuary: $67
- Boat and Snorkel Tour to 5 Islands of Los Arcos: $46
- Cachasol Raicilla and Tequila Tour: $83
- Canopy Tour Experience in Sayulita, Nuevo Nayarit.: $68
- City tour express; butterfly, tequila, and beach an ecological day: $22
- EcoHike experience through the jungle, mountains and hidden beach: $30
- Edenva Ecotourist Park in Puerto Vallarta: $69
- Food & Mixology Tour:Tequila,Tacos, Mezcal and Agave Cocktails: $98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $16Puerto Vallarta $22
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.