Full Belly AND Low Cost in Vallarta? Yep!
Puerto Vallarta smells like salt, grilled meat, and mangoes. It’s the kind of place where flip-flops fly in 90% of social settings, where sunsets look fake but aren’t, and where, with just $25 USD a day, you can eat like Bourdain would have wanted you to.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “$25? Charlotte, that is crazy talk! You are ridiculous! There’s no way that’s doable for an entire day!” And sure, maybe in London, Toronto, or Los Angeles, it’s barely a meal. But in Puerto Vallarta? That’s a full day of flavour-packed bliss that leaves you satisfied and sun-kissed. And honestly, it’s not a bad way to live.
At the time of writing and publication, $25 USD gets you about $468 - $473 MXN, give or take depending on the day (the rate has been hovering around 18.5 to 19 pesos per USD) and, of course, your exchange rate prowess. That kind of cash in PV is not just workable, it’s downright luxurious if you know what you’re doing. And I do. I live this life. And not as a retiree with a massive bank balance behind me. I live it as someone who works every day and is on a budget. And I do it happily, with salsa stains on my shirt and a churro in my hand.
Mornings come early in Puerto Vallarta, and in Zona Romántica, the breeze feels like a soft reminder that the best parts of the day don’t need to be rushed.
You wander out and head to a proper panadería, where the air is rich with butter, sugar, and destiny. A soft concha or maybe a gooey empanada seems right. That’s 20 pesos down. You grab a piping hot café de olla for another 40 pesos, and away you go.
You walk a bit, and as you round the corner, you see a juice cart where they’re blending jugos verdes like it’s an Olympic sport. You ask for the large, because go big or go home, am I right? Pineapple, celery, lime, cactus, cucumber, maybe a whisper of chia seeds. It’s tart, it’s refreshing, and it’s 50 pesos well spent.
You’re only 110 pesos in, and already living your best life.
Midday hits and you’re ready to eat again. This is where the comida corrida steps in like a culinary fairy godmother.
You’ve scoped out a local fonda the day before, and you noticed one that didn’t even have a sign. That’s how you know it’s good. Inside, a plastic tablecloth, a ceiling fan that’s hanging on for dear life, and a blackboard with today’s menu: caldo de pollo to start, followed by pollo en mole, rice, beans, a mountain of tortillas, and agua de jamaica. Oh, and flan for dessert, because the chef is a saint. All of this? 100 pesos.
You roll yourself out and start walking the Malecón to recover, dodging tourists, selfie sticks, and balloon swords. That’s when the snack cravings hit, as they always do.
Street carts start appearing like delicious mirages. There’s one with fresh-cut mango dusted in chilli and lime. Another is selling esquites, corn fresh off the cob, swimming in mayo, cheese, and salsa, served hot in a cup with a spoon. You choose one, and that’s 50 pesos. Now your hands are full and your day is perfect.
Come evening, you’ve got options. But you’re no fool. You’re here for tacos. You head to a taquería just outside the tourist drag. You know, the one near the petrol station, next to the tyre shop. Where the best ones always are.
You order a plate of three tacos al pastor, because moderation is the key to longevity, and you still want dessert. The meat is juicy and crisp, shaved straight from the spinning spit, and it’s slathered with pineapple, cilantro, and onion. You add your own salsa from the condiment bar with options like smoky chipotle, tangy green, and the red one that’s basically liquid fire. 60 pesos. You grab a beer, so we’ll make it 100. You’re full, and you’re happy.
But wait! What about dessert? You head back toward the Malecón, where the air is thick with cinnamon, oil, and dreams. Churros. Hot, fresh, and served in a paper bag. You get a couple, because self-control is for other people. That’s 30 pesos. You walk slowly, eating one at a time, listening to the waves and the distant sound of someone badly playing the saxophone.
Let’s break it down:
Breakfast:
20 (pastry) + 40 (café de olla) + 50 (fresh juice) = 110 pesos
Lunch:
100 (comida corrida with a drink and dessert)
Afternoon snacks:
50 (mango or esquites)
Dinner:
100 (3 tacos + cerveza)
Dessert:
30 (churros)
Total: 390
20% Tips Throughout the Day: 80
Total: 470
That’s just under $25 USD, and you’ve eaten four to five times, supported small businesses, and tipped with confidence, all while savouring some of the best food on the continent.
What you’ve just done is not simply eaten on a budget, you’ve feasted. You’ve taken a street food victory lap around one of Mexico’s most beautiful coastal cities. And you didn’t have to sacrifice nutrition, flavour, or joy. You didn’t nibble on a sad protein bar or cry into a bowl of plain rice. You lived. You devoured.
The beauty of eating this way in Puerto Vallarta isn’t just the price, it’s the connection. You have to seek these places out, so you meet people. You talk to the lady stirring pozole from a pot the size of a bathtub. You hand over coins and tips and get smiles in return. You eat where real people eat.
You learn that the best meals don’t come with a cloth napkin or a service charge. They come on a plastic plate, with a cold drink, a sea breeze, and maybe a dog curled up at your feet.
So yes, you absolutely can eat in Puerto Vallarta on $25 a day. And not just survive, but thrive. You can eat like a local, snack like a tourist, and finish every night with a full belly and absolutely zero regrets.
Come hungry. Come adventurous. Come with pesos. And above all, come ready to fall deeply, hopelessly in love. One delicious bite at a time.