Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Cost of Living, Healthcare, Local Clubs and Activities, Healthcare and What to Know About Living in Puerto Vallarta

Summary: People describe Puerto Vallarta, Mexico as a vibrant, tropical paradise with stunning beaches, lush jungles, and a vibrant culture. Expats love the relaxed atmosphere, the friendly locals, and the abundance of outdoor activities. The weather in Puerto Vallarta is typically warm and sunny year-round, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-90s Fahrenheit. The average cost of living for an expat is around $1,500 to $2,000 USD per month. The cost of a one bedroom apartment is typically around $500 to $800 USD per month, while a two bedroom apartment can range from $700 to $1,200 USD per month. The approximate population of Puerto Vallarta is around 300,000 people.

What do I need to know about living in Puerto Vallarta?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Puerto Vallarta, they said:

"We visited Puerto Vallarta for 15 years before moving here. I would tell my friend to visit at least 6 times, renting in different places each time. The areas of this city/region are quite different, so that person should rent in Centro, Southside, Conchas Chinas, Mismaloya, the Marina, the Hotel Zone, and even in Nuevo and Bucerias before he or she commits to anything long term. Of course, I would also advise my friend to start learning Spanish and start saving money. Most real estate transactions are in cash because interest rates are very high here. There are long term rental opportunities, if one is comfortable living with a certain amount of uncertainty about availability year to year. I would also tell my friend that, after buying our condo, we have never been happier or so free of financial worries. We love living here," added another expat in Puerto Vallarta.

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What do I need to know before moving to Puerto Vallarta?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Puerto Vallarta, they said:

"I suggest you begin by renting in the Versalles neighborhood--it is still affordable, well laid-out, and pleasant, and is central enough to give you good access to a variety of amenities and other neighborhoods. The deciding factor in choosing where to live will be whether or not you plan on owning a car. There are some gorgeous areas with spectacular views that you would probably not choose to live in without either your own transportation, a very nearby bus stop, or a willingness to use Ubers/taxis pretty much every time you go anywhere," added another expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

"Franvan, Versalles is reasonably priced. Las Gaviotas is reasonably priced. Vallarta Villas (gated condos) maybe comparable with Fluvial pricing. 5 Diciembre (There are some newer gated condo properties in some of this area. Most of Centro/downtown and the Romantic Zone will have electricity and water/flooding problems during the rainy season. Fluvial, a residential area has both homes & condos for rent & sale with some being newer (all electricity underground, including internet/phone with Telmex). The Marina area will have more condos than homes for rent and you'll pay more than all of the above most of the time," explained one expat living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

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How do I find a place to live in Puerto Vallarta?

We asked expats how they chose their neighborhood and found a place to live. They answered:

"I am currently happily settled in Puerto Vallarta, where I find there are more activities that I am comfortable joining than I found in Mazatlán. Though Vallarta is more "verticle" than Mazatlán (which is one of the features that appeals to former Vancouverites), there are also plenty of flat areas with nice homes and amenities and, personally, I rent 4 blocks from the beach (the last block before the hill)," remarked another expat living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"Versalles, Aralias & Fluvial just to name a few. Rentals are found easy with boots on ground. You need to view in person and no deposits until you arrive. Otherwise, most likely, you will have a problem with your deposit and may never see it. In Zona Romantica (my opinion is that it’s for visitors/tourist) you will have fireworks almost every night, many tourist, road blocks for celebrations/water repairs, spring/winter breaks, flooding during the rainy season, and parties non-stop," added another expat in Puerto Vallarta.

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What is a typical expat home or apartment like in Puerto Vallarta?

"I live in an apartment/condo. This is typical housing when living in town. Condos were built around the older homes of the locals which are usually very poor, built for convenience rather than for comfort. If living out of town, or up on the hills surrounding Puerto Vallarta, villas and luxury condos are common and frequent. Some of latin America's most famous architects have designed villas in these areas," added another expat in Puerto Vallarta.

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What is the average cost of housing in Puerto Vallarta?

If you are thinking about moving to Puerto Vallarta, cost of living in probably a key consideration. Expats commented about the cost of housing:

"Much lower. I moved here from New York where my rent was close to 3,000 USD for a loft. My rent now is around 700 USD for a very nice 1 bedroom. Inland, apartments start at $100-$300 USD for decent apartments. To be near the beach however, expect to pay no less than $600 for something decent, and around $1000 for something really nice. Utilities are unpredictable but inexpensive for the most part. I work for InsidePV.com so I have at least 2 computers running all day, and occasionally run the air conditioner. This runs me about $35 USD per month. If I run the air conditioner regularly, the bill can easily jump to double or triple," mentioned another expat in Puerto Vallarta.

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How do I meet people in Puerto Vallarta?

When we asked people living in Puerto Vallarta about club and activities where newcomers can meet others, they responded:

"Stroll the malecón in the evening, hang out at Captain Don's bar in 5 de Diciembre neighborhood, and at probably lots of bars in Old Town ("Zona Romantica")," mentioned another expat in Puerto Vallarta.

"Take a look at Incanto: https://www.incantovallarta.com/ I've attended several events there and have made friends in this environment via Bingo & Theater. The owner is a great and friendly host. Stroll within the calendar, as well, since you teach Improv. The current calendar looks like its still within the high season. This and many other options are available in Puerto Vallarta," commented one expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

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What should I bring when moving to Puerto Vallarta?

People living in Puerto Vallarta were asked what three things they wish they had brought and three they wish they had left behind. They wrote:

"I wish I had brought more electronics, books, and computer software. All are easily double or triple the price in the US. This includes computers and pc accessories, cell phones, stereos, tv's, books, and magazines, etc. I also wish I would have brought a dehumidifier- they are impossible to find here but absolutely essential. Quality cosmetics, beauty products, and health products are not available here and what is, is limited or made with locals in mind- for example, products for dark hair and skin tones or health shakes made from a local cactus. Linens here are often not as soft and comfortable as we are used to in the states and Egyptian cotton is impossible to come by. Comfortable furniture- beds, sofas, and chairs are usually hard as rocks here with rough fabrics. What I could have left are most of my designer clothing and high heels- cobblestone streets ruin shoes and humidity eats fine fabrics. It's not uncommon to go to your closet and pull out a shirt with mildew on it after even a week. If you're not too attached, there's no need to bring decor items- the art scene here is great and plenty of international decor shopping and boutiques," said another expat in Puerto Vallarta.

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Will I be able to find a job in Puerto Vallarta?

When we asked people about industries and career opportunities in Puerto Vallarta, they reponded:

"The main industry here is tourism. That is probably followed by construction. I am retired, so I don't know how one goes about getting a work visa or finds a job. I do know there are opportunities for those fluent in Spanish in real estate," mentioned another expat in Puerto Vallarta.

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What is life like in Puerto Vallarta?

When we asked people living in Puerto Vallarta what life is like and how people spend their time, they said:

"For Mexicans, it is all about family. Many expats here are retired and spend their time golfing, socializing, enjoying the beaches, painting, or writing. Other expats are working in real estate or own businesses like restaurants or art galleries," added another expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

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What do expats in Puerto Vallarta appreciate most about the local culture?

"I loved seeing how immaterial material things were. I became friends with a woman who lived in a 2 room dirt floored house. She and her family were happy and content. She had 4 children with her and they all slept in one room. It made me realize that in the US we have so much materially but it really doesn't help us be happier. I felt sorry for her in the beginning and yet ended up a little envious after getting to know her and her family," commented one expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

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What do expats find most challenging?

"The way there is nothing set when dealing with police. Or at least, what I experienced a few times. I got pulled over over something but there was an unsaid dictum that all I had to do was give the policeman some money and drive away," remarked another expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

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Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Puerto Vallarta accepting of differences?

"People here are very accepting of differences. The dominant religion is Catholic. There are a few storefront nondenominational or Protestant options in our area. There are few people of African descent here. This is an international city, however, with expats from the US, Canada, Germany, England, Italy, and other countries in Central and South America. It is a gay friendly area, offering many bars, clubs, and even resorts that cater to same sex weddings and events. People here are warm and welcoming, managing to cross any language barriers with smiles and laughter," added another expat who made the move to Puerto Vallarta.

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What are the schools in Puerto Vallarta like?

"We had a very mixed experience. We wanted our daughter to experience another culture and learn Spanish. In this respect, we were very successful. Our daughter speaks Spanish fluently and with a Mexican accent. And, exposure to a new and different culture has left her a more mature person. Further, Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful place to live. On the down side, this success did not come without a cost. Mexican children are very class oriented, they are good at treating people (and often teachers) as 2nd class citizens. New students are treated as 2nd class. Our daughter reacted to this with righteous indignation. This brought down a tidal wave of pressure and isolation. Other new students seem to be better at figuring our the power hierarchy and moving with it, instead of against it - and they seem to have a somewhat easier time. But this is not an easy school to be "new" at. Finally, the school is behind the USA academically. The school tests their students against MAP scores. MAP scores seem to use the USA public school students as a base. Our daughter scores in the 90th percentile in MAP. However, when we tested her in ISEE (Independent Schools Entrance Exams) comparing her against U.S.A. private school students, she scored in the 40th percentile. So, the school would count as a very good U.S.A. public school, but significantly below average as a U.S.A. private school. However, in fairness, most of the children in the school are not native English speakers, so you must make some allowances when comparing them against NYC private schools," remarked another expat living in Puerto Vallarta with children attending American School of Puerto Vallarta.

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What are the pros and cons of living in Puerto Vallarta?

Expats, digital nomads and retirees living in Puerto Vallarta responded:

"The culture shock has taken two years to acclimatize to, and it's not over yet for me. However, people here laugh more, smile more, and sing more than in the United States. The narco violence reported in the news is completely overblown. Private medical services, which is why we moved here, are superior to the US and are 1/20 the cost," commented one expat living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"Great "starter" city for an expat, lots of available information, great community that allows you to integrate, lots of options, just plain "easy". That said, weather isn't for everyone, and a little dirty/trashy, plus choice of neighborhood makes a huge difference," remarked another expat living in Puerto Vallarta.

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What type of social life can someone expect in Puerto Vallarta?

When we asked expats and global nomads about their social experiences in Puerto Vallarta, they replied:

"The possibilities for social interaction in PV are just about anything you might prefer. There are socially interactive activities and venues everywhere. Physical, culinary, educational, exploratory, etc., opportunities are constant," commented one expat who moved to Puerto Vallarta.

"Large expat community that extends into the local community, great way to integrate," said another expat.

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"There's a large North American expat community in Vallarta, especially in winter. We have many ways of communicating and keeping in touch, so knowing Spanish is very helpful but not absolutely required. Many Mexican nationals here speak at least some English, which makes things easier even in the off-season," said one expat living in Puerto Vallarta.

"We didn't make friends with native neighbors but we did meet several natives in the restaurants we frequented. They are all very friendly," mentioned another expat inPuerto Vallarta.

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What advice to expats in Puerto Vallarta have about housing?

"PV is a boomtown. Consequently, rental prices and purchase prices are higher here than most places in Mexico, with no corresponding rise in quality," commented one expat living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"A lot of the rentals have become Airbnb's because they can make more off them then monthly," remarked another expat living in Puerto Vallarta.

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What are medical services in Puerto Vallarta like?

When we asked expats and global nomads about the quality of medical care in Puerto Vallarta, they replied:

"As cash customers of healthcare services in both the US and Mexico, we have found that private system medical costs all across Mexico are 1/20 of what it used to cost us back in California. We have also found the quality of care to be better," commented one expat living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"Have to find equivalent medications or alternatives, but manageable. Have to find the right doctors, but that is the same as with the US," remarked another expat living in Puerto Vallarta.

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Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Puerto Vallarta?

"Ask for receipts as many places don't issue one.....my health insurance would not cover my pedicures even though I went to the hospital for medical pedicures as the person doing it was not the officially accepted PODIATRIST. My massage visits are wonderful and reasonable 500 pesos for 75 minutes! My insurance companies pay those to a limit as long as the receipts show all necessary info... so check with your insurance company what is necessary. Many Mexicans don't or can't write properly, so make sure they spell your name correctly and have all the info correct, even the date as on one of my receipts the girl put 2010 when it was 2017 and my insurance company refused it even though I had submitted many receipts together and it was an obvious error. There are many walk in clinics with doctors, but quality is questionable, so stick to well known ones in your area. Similaries are good and lower cost. I also lived in Mexico for 2 yrs and worked and had the local Seguro Social medical coverage... covers basics. I speak Spanish so it worked out ok, but it was a bit of a drive and a different process... so when I felt stressed I just used the local private clinic and paid 500 pesos to see the doctor," commented one expat living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

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