🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Seef versus $1,775 in Puerto Vallarta.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,623 in Seef versus $2,683 in Puerto Vallarta.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,586 in Seef versus $3,591 in Puerto Vallarta.
🌍Living in Seef costs roughly 7% less than in Puerto Vallarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seef20% above, Puerto Vallarta29% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.39BHD 3.16
$14.98MX$254
-43.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.1BHD 19.65
$61.4MX$1,041
-15.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.34BHD 3.14
$12.02MX$204
-30.62%
Cappuccino
$5.03BHD 1.90
$4.46MX$75.7
12.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56BHD 0.59
$2.07MX$35.10
-24.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83BHD 0.31
$1.44MX$24.39
-42.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.57BHD 3.98
$3.19MX$54.1
231.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$18.21BHD 6.86
$4.68MX$79.3
289.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23BHD 0.84
$2.02MX$34.31
10.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36BHD 0.51
$3.68MX$62.5
-63.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.21BHD 1.21
$2.25MX$38.17
42.67%
Eggs
$1.52BHD 0.57
$2.57MX$43.59
-40.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.66BHD 4.02
$10.21MX$173
4.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.85BHD 2.21
$12.74MX$216
-54.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.08BHD 6.06
$18.74MX$318
-14.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14BHD 1.18
$2.81MX$47.67
11.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04BHD 0.77
$1.67MX$28.25
22.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59BHD 0.97
$1.93MX$32.80
34.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91BHD 0.72
$2.28MX$38.72
-16.23%
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.35MX$39.90
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.05BHD 0.40
$3.44MX$58.3
-69.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82BHD 0.69
$1.71MX$28.94
6.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39BHD 0.15
$1.33MX$22.59
-70.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.83BHD 1.44
$4.58MX$77.7
-16.38%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.72MX$216
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.73BHD 1.41
$2.06MX$34.88
81.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71BHD 1.02
$3.14MX$53.2
-13.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63BHD 0.24
$0.66MX$11.22
-4.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.6BHD 25.49
$22.71MX$385
197.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56BHD 1.34
$4.64MX$78.8
-23.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.39BHD 1.28
$2.91MX$49.40
16.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.28BHD 2.37
$4.83MX$82.0
30.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60BHD 0.23
$1.63MX$27.68
-63.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$22.7KMX$385.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.3KMX$446.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.7BHD 36.82
$136MX$2,310
-28.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.35BHD 10.31
$33.24MX$564
-17.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.00BHD 17.34
$35.93MX$610
28.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.8BHD 27.07
$41.16MX$698
74.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.47MX$279
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.73BHD 4.04
$9.56MX$162
12.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$382MX$6,476
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,073BHD 3,043
$6,468MX$109.7K
24.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8BHD 25.93
$60.0MX$1,018
14.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0BHD 19.61
$37.78MX$641
37.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0BHD 35.06
$113MX$1,914
-17.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6BHD 29.98
$102MX$1,726
-21.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$919BHD 347
$1,492MX$25.3K
-38.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$682BHD 257
$760MX$12.9K
-10.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,138BHD 806
$2,163MX$36.7K
-1.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,381BHD 520
$1,276MX$21.6K
8.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,388MX$91.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,632MX$44.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,380BHD 1,274
$954MX$16.2K
254.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.7
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seef: September 7, 2026
Last update for Puerto Vallarta: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $919 in Seef and $1,492 in Puerto Vallarta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Seef pays 254% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Seef vs $61.0 in Puerto Vallarta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $349 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
Seef vs Puerto Vallarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Puerto Vallarta cheaper than Seef?
Seef is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Seef or Puerto Vallarta?
Average pay runs 254% higher in Seef, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Seef and Puerto Vallarta?
Rent for a central apartment: $919 in Seef versus $1,492 in Puerto Vallarta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Seef and in Puerto Vallarta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Puerto Vallarta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Seef and in Puerto Vallarta?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Seef versus $1,775 in Puerto Vallarta – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Seef or in Puerto Vallarta?
At $1,660 in Seef versus $1,775 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 Seef or Puerto Vallarta 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, Seef or Puerto Vallarta?
Safety-wise, Seef and Puerto Vallarta 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 7% less than in Puerto Vallarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.