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Puerto Vallarta on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Puerto Vallarta is easy on a budget if you stay in the old town and eat street food. Plan on about MX$1,400 per person per day (bed MX$600, food MX$500, sights MX$200, transport MX$100).
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | MX$600 | MX$1,400 | MX$4,000 |
| Food & drink | MX$500 | MX$1,000 | MX$2,000 |
| Sights & tickets | MX$200 | MX$700 | MX$1,500 |
| Local transport | MX$100 | MX$300 | MX$600 |
| Per person, per day | MX$1,400 | MX$3,400 | MX$8,100 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Puerto Vallarta day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the Malecón and its bronze sculptures
- Watch the sunset from Los Muertos Pier
- Swim at Playa de los Muertos and Conchas Chinas
- Visit the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and its crown
- Explore Isla del Río Cuale and its market
- See the Papantla flyers perform near the Malecón (tips welcome)
Cheap eats
- Street tacos: about MX$25–45 each
- Fish on a stick (pescado en vara) on the beach: about MX$100–180
- Pozole or birria at a fonda: about MX$80–150
- Tamales or elote from street carts: about MX$20–50
- Pescado zarandeado shared: about MX$300–500 for two
Where to sleep for less
Zona Romántica guesthouses cost about MX$900–1,600 a double; a few hostels offer dorm beds cheaper.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the old town; take city buses (MX$12–15) to the beaches and the Hotel Zone. Uber is cheaper than taxis. Buses to Sayulita cost about MX$50–60.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Malecón and Isla del Río Cuale (free)
- Lunch: tacos (about MX$120)
- Afternoon: bus to the Botanical Garden (about MX$30 return + MX$250–300 entry)
- Evening: sunset at the pier and street tacos (about MX$150)
- Total: about MX$600–700 plus your bed (about MX$600), so roughly MX$1,300–1,400
More ways to save
- Travel in May, June or October–November for lower prices before or after peak rains.
- Choose public beaches instead of beach clubs.
- Carry pesos in small notes.
- Use the bus to Sayulita instead of tours.
- Look for comida corrida set lunches.
- Share boat trips with others to split costs.
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Common questions
Can I visit Puerto Vallarta on a budget?
Yes, at about MX$1,400 a day with a guesthouse, buses and street food.
What is the cheapest way from the airport?
Walk across the pedestrian bridge to the main road for buses or cheaper taxis, or use Uber.
What is free?
The Malecón, Los Muertos Pier sunset, the beaches and the cathedral.