🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,554 in Puerto Vallarta versus $2,035 in Lagos.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,386 in Puerto Vallarta versus $3,094 in Lagos.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,217 in Puerto Vallarta versus $4,153 in Lagos.
🙂Living in Puerto Vallarta costs roughly 24% less than in Lagos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Puerto Vallarta16% above, Lagos52% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Vallarta
Lagos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75MX$188
$16.42€14.06
-34.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.49MX$831
$52.2€44.70
-9.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.48MX$166
$8.36€7.16
13.40%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.2
$2.40€2.06
45.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81MX$31.70
$2.18€1.87
-16.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26MX$21.99
$1.66€1.42
-24.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.68MX$46.87
$4.14€3.54
-35.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38MX$76.6
$3.26€2.79
34.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Vallarta
Lagos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58MX$27.73
$1.16€0.99
36.21%
White Bread(500g)
$3.53MX$61.8
$1.62€1.39
117.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35MX$41.18
$2.16€1.85
8.80%
Eggs
$1.97MX$34.53
$3.38€2.90
-41.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.25MX$197
$12.06€10.32
-6.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.48MX$183
$7.46€6.38
40.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.41MX$287
$11.29€9.66
45.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34MX$40.92
$3.01€2.58
-22.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.12
$1.51€1.29
-4.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62MX$28.30
$1.46€1.25
10.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.55
$2.77€2.37
-18.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21MX$38.75
$2.26€1.93
-2.21%
Onion(1kg)
$3.02MX$52.9
$2.37€2.03
27.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49MX$26.16
$1.62€1.38
-8.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$20.20
$0.81€0.69
41.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$75.1
$6.14€5.26
-30.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.63MX$203
$3.54€3.03
228.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96MX$34.34
$1.49€1.28
31.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34MX$58.4
$2.49€2.13
34.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Vallarta
Lagos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.64
$2.35€2.01
-76.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.91MX$278
$41.95€35.91
-62.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.95MX$51.6
$3.43€2.94
-13.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.65MX$46.38
$0.81€0.69
227.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.11MX$72.0
$17.37€14.87
-76.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.15
$1.96€1.68
-32.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0KMX$263.2K
$34.0K€29.1K
-55.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KMX$390.5K
$39.9K€34.2K
-44.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Vallarta
Lagos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$94.4MX$1,652
$115€98.9
-18.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.67MX$414
$21.97€18.81
7.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.87MX$558
$44.71€38.28
-28.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Vallarta
Lagos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.09MX$632
$55.2€47.21
-34.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.34MX$233
$28.41€24.32
-53.04%
Cinema Ticket
$8.11MX$142
$6.56€5.61
23.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Vallarta
Lagos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$355MX$6,206
$547€468
-35.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,343MX$111.0K
$7,349€6,291
-13.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Vallarta
Lagos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9MX$909
$53.0€45.37
-2.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.89MX$576
$24.01€20.55
36.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9MX$1,712
$71.4€61.1
37.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3MX$1,649
$70.0€59.9
34.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Vallarta
Lagos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$998MX$17.5K
$1,225€1,049
-18.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680MX$11.9K
$1,158€991
-41.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,967MX$34.4K
$2,043€1,748
-3.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,274MX$22.3K
$2,218€1,898
-42.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,310MX$92.9K
$4,072€3,486
30.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,575MX$45.1K
$5,040€4,314
-48.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Vallarta
Lagos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$999MX$17.5K
$1,313€1,124
-23.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.5
5.01
129.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Puerto Vallarta: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lagos: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $998 in Puerto Vallarta and $1,225 in Lagos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lagos pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Puerto Vallarta vs $52.0 in Lagos. Groceries flip the comparison at $314 vs $248, with Lagos cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Puerto Vallarta vs Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Puerto Vallarta and Lagos?
Puerto Vallarta and Lagos differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($1,554 vs $2,035 including rent). Puerto Vallarta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lagos earns 31% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Puerto Vallarta and Lagos?
Rent for a central apartment: $998 in Puerto Vallarta versus $1,225 in Lagos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lagos pay roughly 26% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Puerto Vallarta – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $52.0 in Lagos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,554 in Puerto Vallarta versus $2,035 in Lagos, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puerto Vallarta but tight or insufficient in Lagos. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto Vallarta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Puerto Vallarta and Lagos?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Puerto Vallarta or Lagos safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Puerto Vallarta and Lagos are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Puerto Vallarta or Lagos?
Expats usually find Puerto Vallarta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Puerto Vallarta vs other spots: cost of living compared