Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Vallarta and Seef Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Vallarta and Seef

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,766 in Puerto Vallarta versus $1,683 in Seef.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,686 in Puerto Vallarta versus $2,629 in Seef.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,607 in Puerto Vallarta versus $3,575 in Seef.

Living in Puerto Vallarta is roughly 5% more expensive than in Seef, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Puerto Vallarta 29% above, Seef 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Vallarta
Seef
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.61 MX$252
$8.15 BHD 3.07
79.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.1 MX$1,053
$52.6 BHD 19.83
16.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$201
$8.27 BHD 3.12
40.87%
Cappuccino
$4.31 MX$74.3
$5.23 BHD 1.97
-17.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 MX$35.25
$1.49 BHD 0.56
36.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.87
$0.83 BHD 0.31
80.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.20 MX$55.2
$10.59 BHD 3.99
-69.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 MX$77.3
$18.80 BHD 7.09
-76.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Vallarta
Seef
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 MX$35.24
$2.31 BHD 0.87
-11.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.69 MX$63.6
$1.31 BHD 0.49
181.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 MX$38.58
$3.10 BHD 1.17
-27.74%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.71
$1.54 BHD 0.58
68.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 MX$173
$10.59 BHD 3.99
-5.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.63 MX$218
$6.01 BHD 2.27
110.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.24 MX$315
$15.79 BHD 5.95
15.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 MX$49.64
$3.15 BHD 1.19
-8.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.07
$2.08 BHD 0.79
-24.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.47
$2.57 BHD 0.97
-24.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.29
$1.88 BHD 0.71
14.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 MX$38.16
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$3.27 MX$56.4
$1.07 BHD 0.40
205.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.70 MX$29.37
$1.81 BHD 0.68
-6.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$21.60
$0.38 BHD 0.14
228.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68 MX$80.8
$3.75 BHD 1.41
24.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.35 MX$213
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.49
$3.82 BHD 1.44
-46.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 MX$53.6
$2.60 BHD 0.98
19.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Vallarta
Seef
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 MX$10.73
$0.63 BHD 0.24
-1.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.45 MX$387
$65.4 BHD 24.64
-65.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.47 MX$77.1
$3.48 BHD 1.31
28.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.83 MX$48.87
$3.30 BHD 1.24
-14.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.80 MX$82.8
$6.54 BHD 2.46
-26.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 MX$27.51
$0.60 BHD 0.23
166.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K MX$394.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$450.6K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Vallarta
Seef
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 MX$2,298
$98.1 BHD 36.96
35.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.72 MX$581
$26.44 BHD 9.97
27.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.00 MX$604
$46.30 BHD 17.45
-24.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Vallarta
Seef
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.88 MX$705
$72.2 BHD 27.21
-43.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.79 MX$272
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.72 MX$168
$10.65 BHD 4.02
-8.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Vallarta
Seef
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$375 MX$6,470
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,300 MX$108.6K
$8,018 BHD 3,022
-21.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Vallarta
Seef
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 MX$1,022
$68.9 BHD 25.95
-13.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.69 MX$633
$53.3 BHD 20.08
-31.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MX$1,879
$92.7 BHD 34.92
17.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 MX$1,759
$79.1 BHD 29.80
29.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Vallarta
Seef
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,440 MX$24.8K
$936 BHD 353
53.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$736 MX$12.7K
$676 BHD 255
8.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,172 MX$37.4K
$2,136 BHD 805
1.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,270 MX$21.9K
$1,402 BHD 528
-9.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,350 MX$92.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 MX$44.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Vallarta
Seef
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$941 MX$16.2K
$3,376 BHD 1,272
-72.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.7
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Puerto Vallarta: September 14, 2026

Last update for Seef: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,440 in Puerto Vallarta and $936 in Seef. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seef pays 259% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $61.0 in Puerto Vallarta vs $53.0 in Seef for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $250 per month, with Seef cheaper across the board.

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 Seef: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seef cheaper than Puerto Vallarta?
Seef is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Puerto Vallarta or Seef?
On paper, salaries run 259% lower in Seef. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Puerto Vallarta and Seef?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,440 in Puerto Vallarta versus $936 in Seef. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Puerto Vallarta and in Seef?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Puerto Vallarta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Puerto Vallarta and in Seef?
All in, you'll spend $1,766 per month in Puerto Vallarta versus $1,683 in Seef – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Puerto Vallarta or in Seef?
At $1,683 in Seef versus $1,766 in Puerto Vallarta, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Seef but tight or insufficient in Puerto Vallarta. The gap between the two cities makes Seef the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Puerto Vallarta or Seef more family-friendly?
For families, Seef is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Puerto Vallarta, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Puerto Vallarta or Seef?
Safety-wise, Puerto Vallarta and Seef are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Seef gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Puerto Vallarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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