😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,604 in Seef versus $1,554 in Puerto Vallarta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,466 in Seef versus $2,386 in Puerto Vallarta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,328 in Seef versus $3,217 in Puerto Vallarta.
😐Living in Seef is roughly 3% more expensive than Puerto Vallarta, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seef20% above, Puerto Vallarta16% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.69BHD 4.02
$10.75MX$188
-0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.13BHD 15.09
$47.49MX$831
-15.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43BHD 3.55
$9.48MX$166
-0.53%
Cappuccino
$5.48BHD 2.06
$3.50MX$61.2
56.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54BHD 0.58
$1.81MX$31.70
-14.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82BHD 0.31
$1.26MX$21.99
-34.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.54BHD 3.96
$2.68MX$46.87
293.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$18.78BHD 7.06
$4.38MX$76.6
328.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54BHD 0.58
$1.58MX$27.73
-2.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37BHD 0.51
$3.53MX$61.8
-61.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26BHD 1.22
$2.35MX$41.18
38.72%
Eggs
$1.56BHD 0.59
$1.97MX$34.53
-20.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.76BHD 4.05
$11.25MX$197
-4.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.77BHD 2.92
$10.48MX$183
-25.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.68BHD 5.90
$16.41MX$287
-4.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14BHD 1.18
$2.34MX$40.92
34.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18BHD 0.82
$1.44MX$25.12
51.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.45BHD 0.92
$1.62MX$28.30
51.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.85BHD 0.69
$2.26MX$39.55
-18.14%
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.21MX$38.75
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.36BHD 0.51
$3.02MX$52.9
-54.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82BHD 0.68
$1.49MX$26.16
22.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51BHD 0.19
$1.15MX$20.20
-55.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73BHD 1.03
$4.29MX$75.1
-36.36%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.63MX$203
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.77BHD 1.42
$1.96MX$34.34
92.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58BHD 0.97
$3.34MX$58.4
-22.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.55MX$9.64
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$15.91MX$278
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.95MX$51.6
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.65MX$46.38
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.11MX$72.0
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.32MX$23.15
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$15.0KMX$263.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.3KMX$390.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.5BHD 34.42
$94.4MX$1,652
-3.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.18BHD 9.09
$23.67MX$414
2.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.68BHD 17.18
$31.87MX$558
43.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.6BHD 27.67
$36.09MX$632
103.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.34MX$233
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.77BHD 4.05
$8.11MX$142
32.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$355MX$6,206
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,866BHD 2,958
$6,343MX$111.0K
24.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.74BHD 11.93
$51.9MX$909
-38.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$32.89MX$576
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118BHD 44.19
$97.9MX$1,712
20.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$94.3MX$1,649
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978BHD 368
$998MX$17.5K
-1.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$722BHD 272
$680MX$11.9K
6.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,382BHD 896
$1,967MX$34.4K
21.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,458BHD 548
$1,274MX$22.3K
14.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,423BHD 911
$5,310MX$92.9K
-54.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,615BHD 607
$2,575MX$45.1K
-37.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seef
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,331BHD 1,253
$999MX$17.5K
233.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seef: April 27, 2026
Last update for Puerto Vallarta: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Seef and $998 in Puerto Vallarta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Seef pays 233% 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: $40.00 in Seef vs $47.00 in Puerto Vallarta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $314 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?
Puerto Vallarta is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Seef or Puerto Vallarta?
Seef pays 233% more on average, 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: $978 in Seef versus $998 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 Puerto Vallarta?
Shoppers in Seef pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Seef or Puerto Vallarta?
Dining out is cheaper in Puerto Vallarta – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $40.00 in Seef. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Seef or Puerto Vallarta?
At $1,554 in Puerto Vallarta versus $1,604 in Seef, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puerto Vallarta but tight or insufficient in Seef. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto Vallarta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Seef or Puerto Vallarta more family-friendly?
For families, Puerto Vallarta is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seef, 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 Puerto Vallarta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Seef. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.