Where is Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta is a picturesque beach town located on Mexico’s pacific coast. It is in the state of Jalisco and just about a five-hour drive from the state’s capital, Guadalajara.
Why live in Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta is a popular tourist destination, with world-class hotels and resorts. Its airport, Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, is conveniently situated close to downtown Puerto Vallarta and welcomes numerous direct flights from major North American cities every day. Its accessibility, hot weather, laid-back lifestyle and low cost of living make living in Puerto Vallarta a dream for many internationals.
Are you considering living in Puerto Vallarta? Keep reading for the ten things you need to know if you’re living in Puerto Vallarta or considering making a move down.
1. Cost of living in Puerto Vallarta 2022
If you are thinking about living in Puerto Vallarta, it is important to consider the cost of living. Although day-to-day costs are much lower than major North American cities, the overall cost of living is still slightly higher than other Mexican cities due to its high tourism rate.
If you are thinking of renting a condo in Puerto Vallarta, shopping at the local grocery store and eating out a couple of times per week, you can live comfortably on US$2,000 to 3,000 per month.
2. Visa requirements
Most countries (including Canada and the United States) do not require a visa to enter Mexico. You will be granted a tourist visa upon arrival that will be valid for six months. You are allowed to exit and enter the country as many times as you’d like.
When you arrive, you will be given an immigration form. Remember to hold onto this, as it will act as your physical travelers visa. If you lose your immigration form, you can have it replaced at any immigration office for a fee of approximately $500-600 Mexican Pesos.
3. The best neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta to live in as an expat
Puerto Vallarta is a medium-sized city with a population of over 200,000 citizens and an area of 1,301 km². This makes the city slightly smaller than other large tourist cities like Cancun and Acapulco, with just a few neighborhoods heavily populated by expat communities. Most expats live in the neighborhoods that border the coast, making it easy to hop over to watch the sunset or go for a quick swim. These are the top five neighborhoods to live in as an expat in Puerto Vallarta:
Downtown: If you are looking to be amongst the hustle and bustle of Puerto Vallarta’s tourism scene, downtown is for you. Noisy, yet exciting, Downtown has easy access to the main Malecon (boardwalk), the Zona Romántica neighborhood and it is just about a ten minute walk to the 5 de Septiembre neighborhood.
4. Puerto Vallarta weather
Similar to the rest of Mexico’s coastal towns, Puerto Vallarta is hot all year around, making it the perfect destination for beach lovers. You can expect a lot of humidity and rain during the hurricane season (June to mid-October) and dry, slightly cooler weather between November and May. If you are planning on living in Mexico for half of the year, the dry season brings the highest amount of tourism, as people escape the cold and bask in the city’s clear-blue skies.
5. Puerto Vallarta safety
Puerto Vallarta is one of the safest tourist destinations in Mexico, however international visitors should always exercise caution, just as they would in their own country. Always keep a portion of cash and important belongings like passports tucked away in a safe place at home and only leave the house with your essential items (one or two payment cards and enough cash to last you the day). When walking around alone, stick to heavily-populated areas and avoid dimly-lit streets at night.
6. Investing in property in Puerto Vallarta
If you are planning on living in Puerto Vallarta, you may want to consider investing in property there. Puerto Vallarta is a popular destination for retirees and real estate investors looking to purchase a second home that they can enjoy for parts of the year and rent out when they’re away.
Puerto Vallarta’s high rate of international tourism makes it the perfect location for real estate investors looking to host a short-term rental on Airbnb or other online vacation rental booking sites. In comparison with long-term, month-to-month rentals, short-term and vacation rentals in Puerto Vallarta can generate up to twice the monthly income.
There are multiple property management companies in Puerto Vallarta like Naya Homes who will manage all of your property’s cleaning, maintenance, finances and guest services for a small percentage cut — while maximizing revenue.
If you are already living in Puerto Vallarta or thinking about moving to Puerto Vallarta, these 6 tips are a great place to start. We hope you enjoy your time in Mexico. If you are interested in renting your home with a local property manager, fill out this form to see if your rental property qualifies.
If you are a citizen of the United States or Canada, you can stay in Mexico for up to six months without a visa. However, if you plan to stay longer, you will need to obtain a temporary or permanent residency visa.
Puerto Vallarta has a good healthcare system, with many private clinics and hospitals offering high-quality medical care. However, it's important to ensure that you have adequate health insurance coverage before you move, as healthcare can be expensive.
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