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Cost of living can be a very relative term depending on the type of lifestyle one is looking for, and Puerto Vallarta is unquestionably a far more affordable choice for most Canadians and North Americans. One of the reasons why Puerto Vallarta is regularly listed in expat magazines and surveys as a top destination for Americans and Canadians looking to buy a second home is because of this.
With so many compelling reasons to visit Puerto Vallarta, it’s difficult to justify not planning your next holiday – or, better still, your next home. A fantastic climate, beautiful natural scenery, a healthy atmosphere, access to excellent medical care, and exciting business opportunities are all important factors attracting expats to Puerto Vallarta.
But first, let’s look at the numbers and see how much things actually cost in Puerto Vallarta. We’ll use USD as our currency, based on the current exchange rate of 20.19 MXN to 1.00 USD. All costs are estimated based on our real-life experiences living here and are calculated per couple, but can vary depending on personal lifestyle preferences.
Cost of living Vallarta
MODEST FULLY-FURNISHED RENTAL (all costs USD/month)
Rent: $600 (one bedroom)
Transportation: $50 (occasional bus and taxi fares)
Electricity: $40 (with AC less without)
Gas: $8 (used for cooking)
Telephone: $30
Internet: $25
Cable TV: $30
Part-time household help: $60
Groceries: $200
Medical insurance: $30 (IMSS)
TOTAL: $1,073
HIGHER LEVEL OF COMFORT FULLY-FURNISHED RENTAL (all costs USD/month)
Rent: $1900(one bedroom)
Transportation: $200 (car, gas, insurance, plates, parking, some bus and taxi)
Electricity: $60 (with AC less without)
Gas: $10 (used for cooking)
Telephone: $30
Internet: $25
Cable TV: $30
Part-time household help: $100
Groceries: $200
Medical insurance: $30 (IMSS)
TOTAL: $2,585
OWNED TWO-BEDROOM CONDO (all costs USD/month)
Homeowners association: $250 +/- (if applicable)
Transportation: $200 (car, gas, insurance, plates, parking, some bus and taxi)
Electricity: $60 (with AC less without)
Gas: $10 (used for cooking)
Telephone: $30
Internet: $25
Cable TV: $30
Part-time household help: $100
Groceries: $200
Medical insurance: $30 (IMSS)
TOTAL: $685-$935
Puerto Vallarta is not only a perfect place to live economically and to really stretch retirement savings or income earned by working remotely, but it is also a wonderful destination for those looking to live a far more comfortable lifestyle for less. Living good, no matter what your requirements are, start here.
