Huatulco vs Puerto Vallarta
Cost of living comparison for expats considering Huatulco or Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Based on a typical expat lifestyle
Huatulco is 41% cheaper than Puerto Vallarta
Monthly savings
$938
Mexico
Huatulco
$1,337
$23,398
Cheaper option
Mexico
Puerto Vallarta
$2,275
$39,813
Category Breakdown
Housing (Rent)
Utilities
Groceries
Dining Out
Transportation
Lifestyle & Entertainment
Healthcare
Phone & Subscriptions
Based on a typical expat lifestyle: 1BR furnished apartment in mid-range neighborhood, mix of cooking/eating out, rideshare transportation, moderate entertainment, basic health insurance.
City Insights
Huatulco
Huatulco offers exceptional value among Mexico's beach destinations—approximately 50% cheaper than Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen, or Los Cabos. The critical variable is electricity: AC usage can push bills from $12 to $180+ monthly, and triggering DAC (high consumption) rates can triple costs overnight. Long-term rentals run 75% less than Airbnb—searching in Spanish on Inmuebles24 or walking neighborhoods for signs delivers the best deals. Uber/DiDi don't operate here, but fixed-rate taxis at 35 MXN within town make transport easy. No dedicated coworking exists, but Golden Circle at Best Western Chahué offers ~200 Mbps for remote workers. Healthcare is adequate for basics but limited for specialists—serious conditions require Oaxaca City (5 hours) or Mexico City (1-hour flight).
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta runs pricier than non-beach Mexican cities—you're paying for ocean access and established infrastructure. The critical electricity warning: exceeding 850-1,000 kWh monthly average triggers DAC (high consumption) rates, which can TRIPLE your bill overnight. English-language rental listings run 20-40% higher than Spanish sources (Inmuebles24, Facebook Marketplace). Seasonality is extreme—the same apartment costs 15,000 pesos in September but 30,000 in January. Water scarcity is real: 60% less rainfall recently, aging infrastructure, intermittent shutoffs. LGBTQ+ community is Mexico's strongest—the city won the 2024 Magellan Award for Best LGBTQ+ Destination. Healthcare quality rivals the US at 50-70% savings.
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These estimates use a typical expat profile. Adjust housing, dining, and lifestyle preferences to match your actual situation.
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