Puerto Vallarta is, as many describe it, a paradise. Located in Bahia de Banderas has a privileged zone surrounded by huge mountains, part of the called Sierra Madre, and part of the San Andreas Fall.
Puerto Vallarta is surrounded by such beautiful mountains, with wonderful weather almost all year even in winter is home to a huge amount of native animals and beautiful plants that complement the picture.
The sea here is very calm and the access to beautiful beaches is very easy, even for people who do not have a house or condo near the beach, it is just a matter of 10 minutes of walking or in a car to be soon swimming in the most delicious fresh water.
The environment is always festive, most activities and tours are available all year, the food is delicious, the options to find a good place to live are high, locals are friendly, the town has developed big hotels, tour options, and large residential areas. Can you ask for more?
A wonderful place to live
Everything you heard about Puerto Vallarta is true, is a wonderful place to live, and has the best of two worlds: because is a small town by the ocean with those traditional vibes, everyone, locals and foreigners love-, but also is busy, a town in development that is growing very fast and has traffic and a lot of activity around, a lot to do, a lot to see.
We will talk about safety tips and the reality of living in Puerto Vallarta too, but I have to say it is ok, to live here is very safe, considering my country has been dealing with certain issues that are not affecting daily life, for locals or visitors.
With all this I describe, Puerto Vallarta as an option to live in is a big YES.
But as I will describe in this post all the benefits of living here, I will tell you as Mexican and now local, what is the reality that you will face too. Yes, because not everything is perfect in life right?
I hope this Introduction guide on how to live in Puerto Vallarta is useful for you if you plan to consider this amazing place as an option to live in.
Puerto Vallarta, A town becoming a small city - The Current Reality:
Puerto Vallarta was a small town very calm and not developed almost a hundred years ago, by 1920, but still by then started catching the eye of locals who identified the beauty of this paradise, by 1930, Puerto Vallarta started being more and more visited and the first hotels by the sea started to appear. . Was in 1963, with the Hollywood movie, La Noche de La Iguana, when the international eye did fall in love and sincere, Puerto Vallarta is the favorite destination for vacation and also as an option to live.
How is it today? A small town? No… Puerto Vallarta is very developed now, if you see pictures from 50 years ago, it is not even close to the vibrant busy town it is now.
How is Puerto Vallarta today?: Is a tourist place 100% developed to welcome everyone who wants to visit, and many after being here want a piece of it of course. Mexicans and Foreigners, mainly from the USA and Canada, now have their home in Puerto Vallarta. Many others are looking for an investment or a vacation place.
Are there a lot of foreigners living in Puerto Vallarta?: The answer is Yes, many foreigners who live here are retirees, and others are tech nomads and travelers who are here for some time.
Puerto Vallarta is now very busy, the traffic is part of life now and is not easy to move if you do not own a car, the public transport is not efficient and is mostly used by locals to transport to their workplaces. Read here tips to use the public transport in Puerto Vallarta
The beaches, once pristine and crystal clear are in some areas a bit dirty, mostly by Rio Cuale, playa Los Muertos, where has been detected high pollution amount in water.
The quality of air is medium, as a growing city and with a lot of traffic around is of course very common to be walking and to feel the smell of smog from trucks and other vehicles.
Pros to live in Puerto Vallarta:
- Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful place to live, with incredible zones and options, prices according to each pocket.
- Puerto Vallarta is a perfect place for retirees: never cold, always perfect, the ocean nearby, beautiful beaches and good food, add a lot to do and visit around.
- Puerto Vallarta has privileged weather: it is hot and humid from May to October, not something unbearable, let’s say it is hot but feels good. If you don’t like hot weather, maybe Puerto Vallarta is not for you lol. I love hot weather. I fled Mexico City because it is cold most of the year and I hated that. But now living here I have to say I love to spend my evening enjoying the wonderful warm beach feel of the weather. Who doesn’t like the beach feeling right? From November to April it is a bit fresher but not too much like wearing a sweater all the time, let’s say you have half of the year very hot and half the year fresh but not too cold. I love that because I hate the cold.
- Close to the ocean: No matter where you live in Puerto Vallarta you will always have the ocean in 10 min max driving a car or walking it depends on where you live, that is like a dream for many including me, being I lived in Mexico City trapped in the traffic during 40 years dreaming and waiting for my vacation to go to the beach.
- Food/essentials & services: Very cheap, you can do your groceries for an affordable amount, a lot of convenience stores all over a lot of restaurant options, and affordable prices for services such gas, light, and water.
- Delicious affordable places to eat: Living here obviously develops in you another vision tourists do not have, you can locate the best restaurants, and taco places hiding in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, like invisible jewels for tourists, but right on your hand if you live here.
- A lot of activities and places nearby to Visit: I will make a full post about places to visit close to Puerto Vallarta to abound more on this topic, but yes, you live here? Perfect, what about going to the Malecon on the weekend? Do you want a tour? No problem! They now have a special price if you live here! What about a day of snorkeling in Los Arcos? Or an incredible day visiting, Sayulita, San Pancho, Talpa de Allende, Mascota, Bucerias, and Punta de Mita…pfff a lot to do right?…all these places are less or about an hour’s drive from Puerto Vallarta! Amazing!
- Variety of living options: Do you want something in front of the ocean? Maybe landscape view more back? Something quieter? A house? Or a condo? Yes, you can find whatever you are looking for.
Cons of Living in Puerto Vallarta:
- It is already very crowded: If you want a house or a condo by the Malecon or by the beach, well, be prepared to pay a lot. This is because everyone wants to live there and that increases the cost of living.
- People are already moving to other areas, because of the lack of options or the prices that are sometimes crazy for a privileged zone or view. If you have enough money, go for it!
- Pollution: The pollution I see are two kinds: the one generates by all the constant and heavy traffic and the other is the noise pollution, being Puerto Vallarta is a vacation place, is very common no matter where you live, to have a party very loud and also very late at least once a week if you are lucky.
- Rent is becoming very expensive in the most popular areas: Yes, it is getting crazy expensive. I moved 2 years ago during the pandemic, and the prices were still affordable because, you know, traveling was limited. But now to rent in one of the main areas in Puerto Vallarta is very expensive, I will abound about this more ahead too. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE about cost of renting a place in Puerto Vallarta!
- Buying a property is also becoming expensive: Yes, Being here I can tell you some properties houses or condos almost increased a 40% in the value they had 2 years ago, now to buy a house or a condo in Puerto Vallarta is not cheap at all. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE about cost of buying a place in Puerto Vallarta!
- Bad public transportation: Puerto Vallarta only has buses as public transport, and very few, very crowded, and not so comfortable. The other option is to use Uber or InDriver to move around. Depending on how much you go out can be more or less expensive. Yes, it is complicated to live here and move around if you do not have a car.
- The humidity: The hot season lasts at least 6 months. Be aware that it is very hot from May to October, for people who are not used to or who do not like hot weather, the hot feeling mixed with the humidity can be unbearable…not for me… I love to be sweaty all day <3
- Safety issues…like everywhere: Oh well what can I tell you I’m from Mexico City…I know what insecurity is believe me… To live here in Puerto Vallarta is very safe actually! I’m very surprised at how easy it is to walk on the street without being concerned about something bad happening. Of course, like everywhere, please always be alert!
How Much Can You Spend Living in Puerto Vallarta:
Food and Essentials: Puerto Vallarta, no matter where you live, has an option for you to buy your groceries and essentials, and yes, in comparison with the prices in the USA and Canada, it is much more affordable.
Big grocery stores are all over, you can find Walmart, Soriana, and Chedraui, as big chains to do your groceries. Also in the heart of Puerto Vallarta very close to Fluvial, there is a Costco, also a Home Depot, and Sam’s Club! For those from the USA, it feels a bit like home right?
Also, you still have another option, the convenience stores, these are all over, every corner has one, if you need a fast emergency food or essentials purchase, yes, you can trust your always useful and affordable, neighborhood convenience store.
Not talking still in-depth about real estate yet…, in general, the cost of living in Puerto Vallarta talking about food, essentials, services, and fun is very affordable. You can find different options in stores, restaurants, and services, and the variety is amazing.
I will provide you an example of how much an average spend in a month living in Puerto Vallarta for 2 people living in Puerto Vallarta:
- Rent: around 1200 USD / the price may vary depend the zone and property amenities/if is a house or a condo
- Electricity: 100 USD
- Gas: 15 usd
- Water: 10 USD
- Groceries and Essential Household items: 300 USD
- Cel Phones: 40 USD (I have ATT)
- Internet: 40 USD
- Leisure & Dinning Out: 300 USD
- Public Transport: around 70 USD /Taxi & Bus
→TOTAL: 2075 USD MONTLY*
*This may vary if you have to add medical insurance, streaming services or other services you may require according to your specific needs.
As you see, the food and essentials for 2 people for 15 days are affordable being that you may spend much less if it’s only one person. Also, I do plan what I want to eat for 2 weeks and I do buy all I need to prepare my meals at home.
Having a meal in a restaurant, how much does it cost? This will depend on what you want to eat and what kind of place you choose, but you can find living in Puerto Vallarta, full meals for only 4 USD, and also you can eat in a decent restaurant for around 15 or 20 USD per person. This may vary depending on the zone, be aware if you choose to eat in a very tourist area such as The DownTown, prices may increase.
Puerto Vallarta is a paradise, but to live in paradise now has its considerations, stay safe and I will keep posting more useful information about how is to live in Puerto Vallarta, Stay tuned!
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