Living, Working and Retirement in Puerto Vallarta

Living, working, and retiring in Puerto Vallarta refers to settlement in the area for an extended period or staying permanently. Living, working, and retiring in Puerto Vallarta are usually done by settlers from other states or countries, such as the United States of America and Canada. Foreign citizens lived in Puerto Vallarta to experience new environments and lifestyles. Settling in the area of Puerto Vallarta provides a unique and distinct way of living. It is a place with different weather, lifestyle, economic status, healthcare facilities, and overall ambiance. Living, working, and retiring in Puerto Vallarta is an excellent decision since it has a much cheaper cost of living than other retirement destinations. The city compensates its workers well, especially in-demand jobs. The distinct environment has various sources of entertainment and recreational activities. The beaches are perfect for spending retirement years due to their stunning beauty. In addition to that, public transportation is easily accessible at a lesser cost. Lastly, healthcare facilities are highly accessible and provide adequate assessments for their patients at a lower price.

The living experience in Puerto Vallarta is excellent and satisfying, especially for retirees. The living experience in Puerto Vallarta offers many benefits to the people settling there. The place is one of the best in Mexico, with beautiful beaches and tourist spots. Hence, staying in the area provides its people with a lively and fresh atmosphere from the ocean’s lovely ambiance and cool breeze. In addition, the cost of living in Puerto Vallarta is significantly cheaper compared to other regions and countries; hence, budgeting is not something that one finds concerning. Furthermore, when it comes to public transportation, Puerto Vallarta has a lot of sound transport systems to offer. They have tons of taxis, buses,Uber and cabs available depending on where the passengers choose to arrive. It is cheap, pretty affordable, and convenient for people without cars. Moreover, the apartments are scattered around the city, with good deals. The apartments are well-maintained and well-furnished, so the tenants get what they are paying for. Apart from that, when it comes to serious matters, Puerto Vallarta has excellent security and safety protocols, and the healthcare facilities are good enough to compensate for the needs of the patients. Overall, Puerto Vallarta provides almost everything a retiree is looking for in terms of comfort and convenience, adding that they are not overpriced.

The cost of living in Puerto Vallarta varies from $521.39 to $1870.45 without rent. With the current inflation rate in Puerto Vallarta at around 8.15% to 8.70%, a single person living within the area expects to cost a monthly average of $521.39, excluding the charges of apartment fees. The average monthly spending already covers daily expenses such as food and groceries, transportation, monthly bills, clothing, and other accessories. On the other hand, a family with four members expects an average of $1870.45. The monthly cash allowance covers the same expenses; however, additional costs for tuition fees go around $17,500 to $24,000, and other necessary things for children.

Yes, Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place to live. Puerto Vallarta contains beautiful beaches, fascinating infrastructure, and excellent internet connectivity. The site is known for having several different regular activities, quality travel links, and a bright and uplifting environment. Apart from that, Puerto Vallarta is a perfect place for people who want to live in a low-cost area with a worthy day-to-day experience. Lastly, if the settlers are opting to avoid the unbearable winter of their respective states, then Puerto Vallarta is a good choice due to its warmth and comfort.

The time zone of Puerto Vallarta is Central Time. Central Time, commonly referred to as Zona Centro in Puerto Vallarta, is based on the United States’ time zone. It is an alternating time zone that changes between Central Daylight Time (CDT) and Central Standard Time (CST). Central Daylight Time (CDT) use starting from the second Sunday of March and ending on the first Sunday of November. On the other hand, Central Standard Time (CST) operates in the year’s remaining months.

The type of location of Puerto Vallarta is a beach city. Puerto Vallarta is found in the state of Jalisco in Mexico. It sits on the coast of the Bahia de Banderas in the Pacific Ocean. The city of Puerto Vallarta lies beside the ocean, which paves the way for its beautiful beaches and other tourist attractions.

The climate in Puerto Vallarta is mostly warm to hot. Puerto Vallarta’s wet season is hot and harsh most of the time. Meanwhile, its dry season is usually warm, humid, and sometimes cloudy. On an annual scale, the average temperature felt in the place of Puerto Vallarta is around 62℉ to 90℉, and does not commonly go below 56℉ or above 93℉; Thus, making Puerto Vallarta’s climate great for those who do not want the coldness and restrictions brought by winter. The weather perfectly matches the beaches in the area, which are great for tourists’ vacations and frequent visits for Mexican citizens.

Puerto Vallarta offers not just its beautiful beaches, but a lot of various aspects as well. Staying in Puerto Vallarta is a good decision since it paves the way for significant benefits such as an affordable cost of living, accessible healthcare, a business-friendly environment, and distinct geographical tourist attractions.

The advantages of living in Puerto Vallarta are listed below.

• Inexpensive Cost of Living: Inexpensive cost of living in Puerto Vallarta is one of its main advantages. Compared to other highly modernized countries such as the United States of America, the prices of products and goods, transportation, and rent in Puerto are much lower. A tight budget in Puerto Vallarta is not a significant problem since it offers a wide range of products and apartments for its foreign residents.
• Accessible Healthcare: Healthcare in Puerto Vallarta is highly accessible. Getting a consultation or checkup with a registered physician in Puerto Vallarta is not an issue since they are easy to access. In addition, they are affordable as well compared to other cities and countries.
• Business-Friendly Environment: Puerto Vallarta is a business-friendly place. It offers a lot of opportunities for potential business owners and entrepreneurs. The market in Puerto Vallarta is not highly saturated and competitive; hence, everyone has the chance and the space to establish their business and become a successful businessman.
• Distinct Environment: Distinct environment of Puerto Vallarta is one of its feelings of pride. Whether the people want to live close to the Puerto Vallarta beaches, near the mountains, or like to spend their lives in the city, they have the freedom to choose between the two. Apart from that, Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful place that settlers enjoy and appreciate.

Living in Puerto Vallarta is similar to other places. There are drawbacks brought mainly by certain factors such as language barriers, inferior education quality, healthcare issues, and lack of establishments that provide lifestyle necessities. These disadvantages mostly get the struggle of tourists and settlers, especially the newer ones who still need to adapt to the new environment.

The disadvantages of living in Puerto Vallarta are listed below.

• Difficult communication: The difficulty in touch with locals is one of the main disadvantages of living in Puerto Vallarta. The majority of the locals of Puerto Vallarta speak purely Spanish, and only a tiny portion of the population speaks English, excluding tourists and other settlers. Thus, when having day-to-day interaction in Puerto Vallarta, especially if the settlers do not have a slight idea about the Spanish language, they are most likely to struggle and come with various adverse effects.
• Insufficient quality for public education: The public students in Puerto Vallarta have a short average educational level. Puerto Vallarta has a flawed public education system compared to other states and cities, resulting in a lower intermediate academic level for its public students. However, their private schools are one of the top-tier schools in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta’s private schools provide their students with great quality education through effective and efficient learning. Hence, when settlers plan to send their children to school in Puerto Vallarta, opting for private schools is a good option.
• Lack of modernized equipment and staff for public healthcare: The public healthcare system is also below global standards. Puerto Vallarta has little to no modernized equipment and staff for public medical health assessment, which is highly risky for people prone to sickness and illness. On the brighter side, their private healthcare is highly accessible and sufficient to accommodate certain healthcare demands, especially common illnesses, even chronic ones.

The best location to buy a property in Puerto Vallarta is in the Amapas and Conchas Chinas. The Amapas and Conchas Chinas are known for their best and most luxurious real estate with remarkable resale value. There are various properties in Puerto Vallarta, namely condominiums, apartments, and one- to three-story houses, usually with three to nine bedrooms and two or more bathrooms. These properties are located on the South Shore. For instance, the 517 Coapinole Lot 3, Hacienda De Los Santos, is situated on the South Shore of Amapas and Conchas Chinas with eight bedrooms and ten bathrooms. Therefore, when purchasing a property in Puerto Vallarta that serves as both a home and investment, Amapas and Conchas Chinas is the best location.

Yes, Puerto Vallarta is safe. Puerto Vallarta is the safest place to visit in Mexico for tourists and settlers. The city of Puerto Vallarta features among the friendliest places in the world to Travel + Leisure magazine. Furthermore, Puerto Vallarta’s law enforcement is constantly alert and available to ensure the city is safe for its locals, tourists, and settlers.

The working experience in Puerto Vallarta is decent. The operational experience in Puerto Vallarta combines good and evil, just like in other countries, states, and cities. The advantages of working in Puerto Vallarta mainly rely on the unique environment of the working area, excellent salary, and caring organization. The great working environment of Puerto Vallarta allows its workers to have non-toxic and collaborative co-workers. Most businesses in Puerto Vallarta do not put too much pressure on their staff, which is excellent. Furthermore, they offer a great salary, especially for those highly required jobs such as surgeons and physicians. Puerto Vallarta appreciates its workers and credits their jobs well, unlike other states. Lastly, Puerto Vallarta employers care for their workers very much. Whenever some of their workers have bad days, they most likely find some ways to uplift their mood. Not just to boost their productivity but to make them enjoy their job. On the other hand, a disadvantage of working in Puerto Vallarta is that workers cannot have personal growth and improvement. Various management changes are taking place almost every month that make workers challenging to adapt.

Working in Puerto Vallarta has a lot of beneficial qualities, especially if the job requires knowledge and skills and is in demand. Compared to other cities, the salaries in Puerto Vallarta pay their workers well and compensate them based on their effort and hard work.

The highest paying jobs in Puerto Vallarta are listed below:

• Surgeons and Physicians: Surgeons and Physicians are the highest-paying jobs in Puerto Vallarta in 2022. Their high salary is due to their skills-demanding jobs; surgeons and physicians are trained professionals to perform extensive medical healthcare tasks. In addition, given that Puerto Vallarta lacks healthcare staff, its government values and appreciates them more. Thus, their salary compensates for the job they are doing. The average salary of surgeons and physicians in Puerto Vallarta is roughly $2948.45 to $9133.26.
• Judges: Judges come after the surgeons. They receive high monthly salaries since their work is usually attached to significant obligations and responsibilities. Their work typically connects to large commitments and responsibilities. Their decisions affect someone else’s life; hence, they are well-compensated. Judges’ salary is approximately $2476.90 to $6204.66.
• Lawyers:  Lawyers consider high-compensating jobs in Puerto Vallarta as well. They earn high salaries similar to surgeons and judges because they have complex tasks to accomplish in their regular duties. In Puerto Vallarta, the average salary of lawyers goes from around $2005.35 to $6204.66.
• Real Estate Agents: Real Estate Agents make a lot of money in Puerto Vallarta due to the several real estate properties in the area. Puerto Vallarta is one of the retirees’ destinations which makes Real Estate Agents earn money because these elderly settlers are looking for great houses, condos, and apartments to settle in. Real Estate Agents in Puerto Vallarta earn around $2,000 to $20,000 on a monthly basis.
• Bank Managers: Bank Managers are among the top highest-paid jobs due to their responsibilities. The position of bank managers is to monitor and manage millions in funds and investments, which come with many potential risks. They are given a higher salary for their sacrifices, despite knowing the dangers of handling vast amounts of cash. Typical bank managers based in Puerto Vallarta receive a stipend of around $1886.22 to $5857.20.
• Chief Executive Officers: Chief Executive Officers (CEO) join the list due to their skills in adequately maintaining the success of their respective organizations and institutions. Their broad coverage duties need a higher salary to provide proper credit for their hard work and dedication. Most of the Chief Executive Officers in Puerto Vallarta commonly supply an average salary of $1767.09 to $5460.10.
• Chief Financial Officers: Chief Financial Officers (CFO) are individuals who manage money. Chief Financial Officer’s job includes budgeting, spending, cost, and revenue that are vital in the normal processes of their respective organizations. Thus, CFOs highly compensate and primarily receive an average salary of $16748.98 to $5143.70.
• Orthodontists:  Orthodontists in Puerto Vallarta are highly privileged since most people visiting their clinics are willing to pay large amounts for their services. Hence, regarding compensation and earnings, Orthodontists are one of the highest-paying jobs in Puerto Vallarta. Most Orthodontists in Puerto Vallarta usually earn around $1603.04 to $4963.42.
• Professors: Professors’ colleges highly value Puerto Vallarta, and they are one of the most prestigious jobs in the area. Professors receive high salaries since their work is not easy and requires patience and determination. The typical salary for professors in Puerto Vallarta goes from $1423.26 to $4414.59.
• Pilots: Pilots are well-paid in Puerto Vallarta since they are the ones who bring tourists and settlers safely into the area.

Yes, it is easy to find a job in Puerto Vallarta. The distinct environment of Puerto Vallarta provides many business opportunities in the area, thus creating several appointments. There are numerous job hiring in Puerto Vallarta, especially online, wherein thousands of open jobs are available. These jobs are primarily bartenders, apartment and hotel staff, and administrative assistants. Puerto Vallarta has an easier way to find a job than other cities.

The city of Puerto Vallarta designs to be a tourist destination and retiree settlement. Thus, when it comes to its lifestyle, Puerto Vallarta is mainly centered on entertainment and nightlife, recreational activities, and relaxation. The city of Puerto Vallarta has a lot of entertainment and nightlife. During the day, the area offers a distinct set of activities, such as climbing, horse riding, and a tour around the ocean, where several kinds of fish exist. On the other hand, various types of bars and other establishments make people have fun with drinks and uplifting music. Furthermore, its beaches are famous for their recreational activities, swimming, and snorkeling. Lastly, the relaxation that Puerto Vallarta provides is one of the best. Spas and saunas scatter around the city, which is excellent for people who want a peaceful and relaxing experience.

The nightlife of Puerto Vallarta is mostly found in Malecon, the Romantic Zone, and Los Muertos Beach’s cobbled streets, continuous to the Marina. The nightlife of Puerto Vallarta usually consists of bars, cafés, and nightclubs. Various live bands are commonly available and playing in these areas. Apart from it, Puerto Vallarta has DJs as well that play modern music and remix. Additionally, people planning to roam at night in Puerto Vallarta do not have to worry since it is a very safe place. However, intuitive thinking and caution are still highly recommended.

The working capital of Puerto Vallarta is the Romantic Zone. The area of the Romantic Zone is the busiest among other parts of the city since there are the most luxurious and well-known apartments and tourist spots. The Romantic Zone is not just famous for having a lot of tourists and settlers, but it is also extensively recognized for having many businesses and workers. Huge rental apartments and beach resorts are the majority that occupy the Romantic Zone. Thus, it requires a considerable number of workers to maintain the place and serve its visitors well.

Yes, the public transportation in Puerto Vallarta is good. The city of Puerto Vallarta is full of tourists and some settlers, and thus, the demand for public transport is significantly high. It paves the way for a perfect public transportation system, as numerous taxis and UBER are available for people to ride. In addition, these public transportations are safe and cheap as well.

No, one does not need to buy a car when living in Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta has a vast public transportation system with several taxis, buses, and cabs. Most places in Puerto Vallarta are interconnected and closely located, which is good with public transport. Apart from that, Puerto Vallarta transportation is cheaper; hence, that is not much of a big deal. Mexicans and other settlers do not have a car and rely primarily on public transport. Furthermore, purchasing a car in Puerto Vallarta needs legal requirements such as CURP (Unique Population Registry Code) and a thorough process to avoid conflicts and problems with their regulatory agencies.

Yes, Puerto Vallarta is a good retirement destination. Puerto Vallarta is excellent due to its beautiful set of beaches and other tourist landmarks such as the Marietas Islands and Los Muertos Beach. Puerto Vallarta was named the best place to retire in the world in 2010. Furthermore, it is a great city for retirement since living costs are cheaper than in other cities and regions. Moreover, the climate is not significantly harsh, which is suitable for older adults. In addition, there are healthcare clinics and hospitals that are highly accessible for regular checkups and treatment of common elderly diseases. Apart from that, the safety and security of the elderly ensure in the city. There are several claims from older adults who have visited or stayed in the place that they did not feel unsafe despite not being able to speak Spanish. The locals of Puerto Vallarta are friendly and highly respectful towards their peers, especially the foreign and elderly ones. Additionally, its law enforcement is always on duty and ready to serve the city and its people, specifically the elderly citizens spending their retirement years.

The cost of living in Puerto Vallarta for older adults is around $1000 to $2000 monthly. The average price for a single older adult is about $1000. On the other hand, if the retirees are a couple, their expenses are expected to reach $2000. The monthly estimated cost covers the comfort they deserve, which is the rent for a fully-furnished apartment with two bedrooms, monthly bills and utilities, insurance for health, and a satisfactory level of lifestyle. It is already a perfect deal since it is cheaper than living in other states.

Yes, there are public parks, public pools, golf courses, casinos, and book clubs located for the elderly in Puerto Vallarta. Public parks such as Las Aralias Public Park and El Cora Park are places where the elderly are allowed to relax and have peace of mind. On the other hand, the golf courses in the city, namely Marina Vallarta Club and Vista Vallarta Club de Golf, are open for the elderly that are sporty and want to continue their passion in the new place and environment. Furthermore, Winclub Casino and Crown Casino Vallarta are the famous casinos in Puerto Vallarta where retirees do and are fond of gambling. Lastly, there is a well-known book club in Puerto Vallarta named PV Chicas Book Group, where the elderly provides with books they are allowed to read, especially for retirees who want to learn and discover new things. Overall, Puerto Vallarta has all the facilities and establishments that the elderly are looking for as they spend their retirement years. Puerto Vallarta ensures its older adults will not be bored in the area but, instead, will have the best retirement.

Yes, it is safe to drive in Puerto Vallarta for the elderly. The traffic of Puerto Vallarta is well-maintained by law enforcement. There are various claims on the internet that they have been driving in Puerto Vallarta and did not feel unsafe. However, just like in other countries, there are still associated risks.

The city of Puerto Vallarta consists of major pharmacies ready and prepared to supply almost every type of maintenance drug for certain chronic illnesses and over-the-counter medications for immediate relief. Thus, tourists and settlers don’t have to worry about running out of supplies since significant pharmacies are located in the area.

The major pharmacies in Puerto Vallarta are listed below.

• Farmacia Guadalajara: Farmacia Guadalajara is a big pharmacy located in Insurgentes 261 48300 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. Most first-time visitors prefer Farmacia Guadalajara since it contains most of the necessary stuff that visitors need, such as groceries and medicines. Apart from that, the pharmacy has a cheap and wide price range among its products, allowing its customers to choose. Lastly, Farmacia Guadalajara is open 24 hours, seven days.
• Gabi Pharmacies: Gabi Pharmacies is located in Guayaquil 422, Lázaro Cárdenas, 48330 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Gabi Pharmacies is another major pharmacy in Puerto Vallarta that provides groceries, prescription drugs, vitamins, skin and body care products, and other medicine-related products such as first aid equipment. The pharmacy’s opening hours start at 8:00 and close at 10:00 in the evening.
• Cruz Carrillo Gustavo: Cruz Carillo Gustavo pharmacies have several branches in Puerto Vallarta, one of which is located in San Salvador 341, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Cruz Carillo Gustavo offers a wide variety of prescription drugs and medications, supplement capsules, and body and skincare products at a low price. The pharmacy usually opens from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
• Morelos Pharmacies: Morelos Pharmacies is located in Col Morelos 685 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Morelos Pharmacies offer its customers excellent quality and cheap grocery and medicinal products.

The age that is considered a senior in Puerto is 60 years old. The age requirement in Puerto Vallarta to be regarded as a senior citizen is similar to most states and nations worldwide. The government of Mexico considers both Mexican citizens or locals and foreign individuals as senior citizens when they reach the age of 60 years old. However, to be verified, each person must get a senior’s card which necessitates legal requirements such as age, CURP number, birth certificate, and voting card, among others.

The perks for senior citizens in Puerto Vallarta are discount cards, cheaper products and services, and accessible healthcare. The Puerto Vallarta discount card is Instituto Nacional de las Personas Adults Mayores or INAPAM. The card uses to get discounts on public transportation, essential goods such as food and medicine, and healthcare assistance. Apart from that, the products and services in Puerto Vallarta are affordable and thus financially benefit senior citizens. Lastly, healthcare facilities are easy to access; hence, illnesses are immediately responded to. Not only that they are accessible, but they are cheaper as well.

Puerto Vallarta, despite not having the best public healthcare facilities in the world, still has major hospitals that provide decent medical assessments to its patients. The major hospitals in Puerto Vallarta are Vallarta Medical Center, Hospiten Puerto Vallarta, and Hospital San Javier Marina. These hospitals are carrying the citizens of Puerto Vallarta’s demands for medical and health-related concerns.

The major hospitals in Puerto Vallarta are listed below.

• Vallarta Medical Center: Vallarta Medical Center is the best hospital in the entire city of Puerto Vallarta. Vallarta Medical Center offers the most reliable medical, surgical, and hospital care for its patients. The hospital is the most trusted in the city since they comply with the highest quality standards, and they are skilled enough to create solutions to several medical concerns and problems. Furthermore, its entire healthcare team is composed of medical personnel, paramedics, and several distinct specialists such as internal medicine specialists that are constantly available to respond to the patient’s needs. Lastly, Vallarta Medical Center has modern facilities and high-technology medical equipment and tools with more efficient and optimized functionalities for faster and better diagnosis and assessments.
• Hospiten Puerto Vallarta: Hospiten Puerto Vallarta is a second place when it comes to hospital and healthcare standards. Hospiten Puerto Vallarta contains almost all the common demands of patients with illnesses. Its facilities cover a wide scope of demands, from cardiology and pediatrics to cosmetic surgery and urology. There is no need to worry when experiencing illnesses in Puerto Vallarta since Hospiten Puerto Vallarta has a lot of medical services to offer.
• Hospital San Javier Marina: Hospital San Javier Marina is another healthcare facility that offers specific and comprehensive healthcare demands. Hospital San Javier Marina consists of skilled medical professionals and high-quality healthcare facilities such as intensive care units and pediatric and neonatal intensive care units.

Yes, the hospitals in Puerto Vallarta have geriatric facilities. The hospitals of Puerto Vallarta are designed to meet the broad scope of demands from its distinct citizens, including the elderly. Thus, there are various facilities that they are offering, for instance, senior facilities that specialize in elderly healthcare. The hospitals that provide geriatric facilities are CMQ Hospital Puerto Vallarta, VMC Vallarta Medical Center, and Hospiten Puerto Vallarta.

Yes, speaking Spanish is essential in Puerto Vallarta. Mexico’s official and primary language is Spanish, and most residents in Puerto Vallarta do not know how to speak English. Having little to no knowledge of the Spanish language probably gave the settlers a difficult time living in the area. Although foreign residents speak English, the people in the market and the transportation system are primarily locals. Day-to-day living is negatively affected if a person does not know to speak Spanish. Thus, before planning to live in Puerto Vallarta, it is highly recommended to master or at least have adequate knowledge of the Spanish language.