Comparison · Mexico City vs Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
Mexico City vs Puerto Vallarta
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gobierno CDMX, CC0
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Quick answer
Choose Mexico City for Tacos al pastor and National Museum of Anthropology; choose Puerto Vallarta for The Malecón, Zona Romántica, beaches and a milder winter. Puerto Vallarta is generally less expensive, and the two are about 651 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 651 km
- Less expensive
- Puerto Vallarta
- Best time for Mexico City
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for Puerto Vallarta
- November–April
Side by side
| Mexico City | Puerto Vallarta | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and Frida Kahlo | The Malecón, Zona Romántica and Humpback whales |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | November–April |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$220 | $100–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | April, 27°C (81°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 21°C (70°F) | January, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Playa Los Muertos |
| Airports | MEX, NLU, TLC | PVR |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Mexico City for…
Tacos al pastor and National Museum of Anthropology. Mexico City sits at about 2,240 metres in a high valley ringed by volcanoes, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. Its historic centre around the Zócalo holds the Templo Mayor ruins, the cathedral and Diego Rivera's murals, while Chapultepec…
Choose Puerto Vallarta for…
The Malecón, Zona Romántica, beaches and a milder winter. Puerto Vallarta sits on the Bahía de Banderas, one of Mexico's largest bays, where the forested Sierra Madre drops straight to the Pacific. The old town keeps cobbled streets, whitewashed houses with red-tile roofs and the crown-topped Guadalupe church…
Top sights compared
| # | Mexico City | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zócalo | The Malecón |
| 2 | Metropolitan Cathedral | Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe |
| 3 | Templo Mayor | Isla Río Cuale |
| 4 | National Palace murals | Playa Los Muertos and the pier |
| 5 | Palacio de Bellas Artes | Mirador de la Cruz |
Food compared
| Mexico City | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|
| Tacos al pastor | Pescado zarandeado |
| Chilaquiles | Smoked marlin tacos |
| Tamales and atole | Aguachile |
| Tlacoyos | Birria |
Which is cheaper?
Puerto Vallarta is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $100–$200 per person there, against $120–$220 in Mexico City (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Puerto Vallarta on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta are about 651 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Mexico City and 6 in Puerto Vallarta.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Mexico City or Puerto Vallarta cheaper?
Puerto Vallarta is usually less expensive: about $100–$200 a day mid-range against $120–$220 (estimates).
+Is Mexico City or Puerto Vallarta better for a first trip?
Pick Mexico City for Tacos al pastor and National Museum of Anthropology, or Puerto Vallarta for The Malecón, Zona Romántica, beaches and a milder winter.
+How far is Mexico City from Puerto Vallarta?
About 651 km in a straight line.