San Cristóbal de las Casas vs Puerto Vallarta
Cost of living comparison for expats considering San Cristóbal de las Casas or Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Based on a typical expat lifestyle
San Cristóbal de las Casas is 52% cheaper than Puerto Vallarta
Monthly savings
$1,189
Mexico
San Cristóbal de las Casas
$1,086
$19,005
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
San Cristóbal de las Casas
San Cristóbal offers Mexico's best value for comfortable living—a couple can thrive on $1,500/month in a UNESCO-worthy colonial town. Spanish-language listings on Inmuebles24 run 10-20% cheaper than Airbnb/expat platforms. Chiapas produces Mexico's finest coffee, and San Cristóbal keeps the good stuff local. Critical warnings: home wifi often delivers 3-15 Mbps despite promises—serious remote workers need Centralita coworking ($85/month) or Starlink ($53/month). The water is contaminated with fecal bacteria—never drink tap, budget $17/month for garrafones. Most newcomers get sick within their first week. At 7,200ft elevation, expect cold nights (40-50°F in winter) with no central heating.
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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