About Moving to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta is a digital nomad and expat dream. Puerto Vallarta is a modern, beautiful city that retains much of its charm while also enjoying a prime location right on the beach. With great food, numerous activities and some affordability, Puerto Vallarta is an amazing place to live.

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About living in Puerto Vallarta, planning for a few months as a digital nomad or as a permanent retirement move. One of the major challenges for expats in Puerto Vallarta is the language barrier. Most people in the city speak Spanish, and although many also speak English. Additionally, the cultural norms and values can be jarring to those from different countries, as the city has its own unique customs and traditions. The climate can also be difficult to adjust to, with hot and humid temperatures year-round, and the cost of living is higher than in some other parts of the country.

Living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Expats in Puerto Vallarta appreciate the vibrant and diverse culture that greets them upon arrival. They are drawn to the warm and welcoming nature of the people, the array of delicious cuisine, the colorful streets bustling with life and the stunning selection of art and local crafts. The relaxed pace and openness of the community are also cherished by expats, allowing them to truly settle into the lifestyle and experience all the city has to offer. Aside from savoring the local flavor, the city and its beaches provide ample opportunities for adventures and explorations.

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Living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Is Puerto Vallarta Cheap?

While the answer to this question is definitely subjective, and it depends on where you are comparing it to. Puerto Vallarta can be an inexpensive place to live depending on your source of revenue or your expectation.

Puerto Vallarta can be cheaper than other major cities such as Cancun, Tulum or Mexico City, and you could absolutely live in PV for around $1,000 a month per person.

Cell phone plan. You can get a limitless plan for calls to the US and Canada for less you can get in the US or Canada.

Your property rental will not likely include utilities, wifi, this will be an addition to your monthly expenses.

Neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta – Where to Live in PV

When choosing where to live in Puerto Vallarta, it’s important to consider the many different neighborhoods and their locations. Personally, I recommend being far outside the Hotel Zone and as close to el Centro as possible.

Ideally, it would be great to spend some time in PV before your move in order to explore the neighborhoods and decide where you want to live. However, for some (like me!) that isn’t an option, so good research is key.

Neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta.

Maps Puerto Vallarta Areas or Your Hotel relative to the City or Ocean. https://promovisionpv.com/maps-puerto-vallarta-areas-or-your-hotel-relative-to-the-city-or-ocean/

Puerto Vallarta is very hilly and these hills are steep. If you are outside of the main downtown area in 5 de Diciembre, Versalles, Marina, Centro and Emiliano Zapata you could end up with a very, very steep walk every time you try to go from town back home. These steep hills coupled with the intense heat and humidity that is often present, is not necessarily a good mix, if you have heath impairments. This is especially true if you are planning to walk most places. The downtown area of PV is very walk-able, so I definitely recommend walking whenever possible.

El Centro

El Centro is probably my favorite neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta. Located between 5 de Diciembre and the Zona Romantica, this neighborhood is quaint, beautiful and is home to great restaurants and coffee shops. It also has a lovely park area right in front of the stunning Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

While there is not a grocery store in El Centro, you can easily walk to 5 de Deciembre to Casa Ley.

Zona Romantica/Emiliano Zapata

The Emiliano Zapata neighborhood, with its main downtown area known as the Zona Romantica, is the most popular area in downtown PV. This is definitely a party neighborhood and if you are right in the downtown area, you can certainly expect it to be louder, especially on weekends.

Emiliano Zapata has tons of great restaurants and shops and is also home to the famous Los Muertos Beach. While I definitely think there are better beaches in PV, Los Muertos is extremely popular. If you want to be right in the middle of all of the action, this is the neighborhood for you.

Keep in mind that while there are mini-markets and food markets, there is not a full grocery store in the Zona Romantica. You can order online at Walmart or La Comer have your groceries delivered, for a little extra for delivery.

I highly recommend visiting some Puerto Vallarta facebook groups and inquire what is available, some time before your move. Do a virtual neighborhood tour and find apartments for your budget and location. Unless you have a temporary location until you decide for a longer location stay? you may be walking along the streets, you will see apartments with “Se Renta” (For Rent) signs. This is a great way to find available apartments that are often cheaper than those listed online.

If you ca not visit PV before your move, this web site 500+ pages and other Facebook Groups are good options. There are tons of Facebook Groups where people share available rental units around the city.

How to Get Around Puerto Vallarta

Downtown Puerto Vallarta is all very walkable areas. You can easily explore these neighborhoods on foot and walk between each of them in less than 20 minutes.

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While there are reliable public buses in Puerto Vallarta, Ubers or it is alternative are very cheap. You can easily go between neighborhoods for a couple dollars and pretty much anywhere in the city for $5 or less. Because of the affordability, they are a great option if you need to get around.

If you are living in downtown PV, There is really no need for a car. Because of the walk-able nature of the city and cheap public transportation you likely will not have the need for car transportation unless you may have large quantity of packages..

Eating Out in Puerto Vallarta

The food scene in Puerto Vallarta is excellent. Living in Puerto Vallarta is fantastic as there are so many delicious restaurants at a variety of price points. The good news is, you don not need to spend a lot of money to have a delicious meal in PV. There are tons of restaurants around the city where you can get tacos for $1, that is right, full service, sit down restaurants with $1 tacos.

Food Tours

Street Food is very numerous and varied in Puerto Vallarta and around the Bay of Banderas. https://promovisionpv.com/street-food-is-very-numerous-and-varied-in-puerto-vallarta-and-around-the-bay-of-banderas/

You can visit a ton of great restaurants that you may go back to the entire time you will be in Puerto Vallarta! You should be definitely be doing that. It is a great way to get to know the local food scene and get restaurant recommendations from the people you meet.

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Where Do I Shop For Groceries in Puerto Vallarta?

One thing to consider when living in Puerto Vallarta is where the closest supermarket is to your home. In the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood you will find the Casa Ley supermarket. This supermarket is large and has most everything you’ll need. They even sell clothing, home items and seasonal decorations. If you live in 5 de Diciembre, el Centro or Zona Romantica, you can easily walk to Casa Ley. Depending on how many groceries you are getting, you may need to take a taxi home.

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There are many other large grocery stores in PV, but not near the downtown area. The good news is, a Taxi or an Uber will be around $3-$5 each way, so it is not overly expensive.

Other grocery stores in PV:

Shopping for Grocery Shopping in Puerto Vallarta https://promovisionpv.com/shopping-for-grocery-shopping-in-puerto-vallarta/ places and locations

Is Puerto Vallarta Safe?

Yes, Puerto Vallarta is safe. Like any city, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and use common sense (do not flash large amounts of money, do not leave your valuable unattended, etc.) Do not venture out late at night alone (but I also you would not do that anywhere), and you will never feel unsafe.

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Things to Know When Moving to Puerto Vallarta

The internet is, overall, very good with fiber optic in most areas.
You should never have internet issues and wifi is easy to find around the city.

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Most new condos and many updated properties have new ultra-filtered and drinkable
Puerto Vallarta has some of the best water in Mexico, but unless you have a UV light filter that is specifically made for drinking water. Regular water is perfectly fine for brushing your teeth.

Can You Drink Puerto Vallarta Tap Water https://promovisionpv.com/can-you-drink-puerto-vallarta-tap-water/

Delivery (food, groceries, etc) is fast and cheap
You order your grocery online from Walmart and La Comer.
Many restaurants offer home deliveries via Rappi or UberEats

English is widely spoken, but I recommend learn to speak Spanish as for respect to your new country. You will hear English spoken regularly at stores, restaurants and tourist experiences. While you could live in PV only speaking English, while you are there, you may take Spanish classes. This will allow you to better immerse yourself in (and respect) the local culture and learning another language is always a fun and useful skill to have!

Respectfully Moving to Mexico

The privilege of being able to move to another country and enjoy the many beautiful ways of life a new place has to offer. This privilege, ability and ease of movement is not distributed equally. As a foreign citizen who works remotely, It is easy to pack up and move/travel to Mexico for any reason.

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When moving to a new place, it is so important to do it responsibly, kindly and to support the local economy. This is especially important as when an influx of foreigners move to places that are deemed “inexpensive,” the cost of living for locals go up.

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Living in Puerto Vallarta as a digital nomad or expat is truly a wonderful experience. The city has everything you need while also being charming, packed with activities and brimming with delicious food.

We provide information and resources for visitors to Puerto Vallarta, areas of The Riviera Nayarit and other destinations in both states of Jalisco and Nayarit . You will find variety of content, including articles, blog posts, videos, photos, descriptions and interviews, all of which are designed to help visitors plan their trip, including attractions, restaurants, and events. https://promovisionpv.com/