TL;DRSan Miguel de Allende is 23% cheaper on rent ($1,106/mo vs $1,435/mo). Puerto Vallarta has milder winters (64°F vs 46°F lows). Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.

Too close to call — 48 vs 45. San Miguel de Allende has a slight edge, but Puerto Vallarta might suit you better depending on your priorities.

How the livability score breaks down

Puerto Vallarta

San Miguel de Allende

15/25

💰 Affordability

18.2/25

0/15

🔒 Violent Crime

0/15

6.6/10

🛡️ Perceived Safety

5/10

5.3/15

⚡ Internet

5.3/15

8/15

🗳️ Democracy

8/15

3/10

🗣️ English

3/10

7.3/10

☀️ Climate

9.6/10

5.3/10

📊 Stability

5.3/10

4.7/10

🚗 Road Safety

4.7/10

3.5/10

🕊️ Geopolitical Safety

3.5/10

Verdict delivered. Your move.

The winner's file

🇲🇽 San Miguel de Allende

Full profile. Verify before you pack.

Due diligence

🇲🇽 Puerto Vallarta

Every verdict deserves an appeal.

Plot twist

Puerto Vallarta vs Montreal

Someone else's dilemma, equally unsolvable.

Household

Puerto Vallarta

Metric

San Miguel de Allende

$539/mo

🛒

Living costs (no rent)

lower is better

$322/mo✓

$5,055

🧳

Cost to land

lower is better

$4,068✓

✓35 / 100

🛡️

Settler safety

higher is better

33 / 100

24.9 / 100k

🔒

Homicides

lower is better

24.9 / 100k

12.0 / 100k

🚗

Road deaths

lower is better

12.0 / 100k

✓66 / 100

🚨

Safety Index

higher is better

50 / 100

86°F

☀️

Summer high

personal taste

79°F

64°F

❄️

Winter low

personal taste

46°F

—

🌬️

Air quality (PM2.5)

lower is better

12 μg/m³

5.3 / 10

🗳️

Democracy

higher is better

5.3 / 10

4.8 / 9

🤝

Migrant acceptance

higher is better

4.8 / 9

71 / 100

🏳️‍🌈

Rainbow Index

higher is better

71 / 100

20/100

🗣️

Street English

higher is better

20/100

$26k

💼

GDP per capita (PPP)

higher is better

$26k

4.7% · Boringly steady

📈

Inflation

lower is better

4.7% · Boringly steady

59/100

🗽

Freedom House

higher is better

59/100

See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · Gallup · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated May 2026

💰

Cost of Living

San Miguel de Allende

$329/mo cheaper on rent alone

☀️

Weather

—

86°F vs 79°F summers

Sun

How much sky you actually get

46% clear

Win

Spr

Sum

Fall

Sky clear

avg daytime

53% clear

Win

Spr

Sum

Fall

10.9h

Shortest day

Dec

10.9h

13.4h

Longest day

Jun

13.4h

Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)

Settler Essentials

Democracy trend

stable →

Inflation trend

stable →

Moderate

🇺🇸 Your visa

Moderate

EU visa

Moderate

RU visa

Moderate

UA visa

Moderate

⚠️ Needs a separate work permit

Spouse works

⚠️ Needs a separate work permit

$4,400/mo

Retiree visa

$4,400/mo

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request

Abortion access

On request

12 wk

Gestational limit

12 wk

Decriminalized nationwide by Supreme Court in 2023. Access varies by state.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

Legal

Marriage

Legal

Joint adoption

Adoption

Joint adoption

Yes

Job protection

Yes

Hate crime law

Yes

Puerto Vallarta vs San Miguel de Allende — Common Questions

Is Puerto Vallarta cheaper than San Miguel de Allende?▾

San Miguel de Allende is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1106/month there vs $1435/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Puerto Vallarta or San Miguel de Allende?▾

San Miguel de Allende is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Puerto Vallarta has a rate of 24.86 per 100,000 and San Miguel de Allende has 24.86 per 100,000.

Should I move to Puerto Vallarta or San Miguel de Allende?▾

Too close to call — 48 vs 45. San Miguel de Allende has a slight edge, but Puerto Vallarta might suit you better depending on your priorities. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Puerto Vallarta or San Miguel de Allende?▾

Puerto Vallarta: Mexico Temporary Resident Visa (moderate requirements, 1–4 years). San Miguel de Allende: Mexico Temporary Resident Visa (moderate requirements, 1–4 years). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Puerto Vallarta or San Miguel de Allende?▾

Puerto Vallarta is warmer in summer (86°F vs 79°F). San Miguel de Allende has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

What's the cost of rent in Puerto Vallarta vs San Miguel de Allende?▾

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $1106/month in San Miguel de Allende, $1435/month in Puerto Vallarta (Numbeo). That's 23% cheaper rent in San Miguel de Allende.