Moving to Puerto Vallarta

A firsthand 10-part guide · My Around the World Daily

Thinking about a move to Puerto Vallarta? Skip the polished brochures and the “$899-a-month” YouTube videos. This is one expat family’s honest, unfiltered account of actually moving from California to PV — the good, the challenging, the unexpected, and everything in between.

Over ten chapters they cover the questions you’re actually asking — cost of living, weather, healthcare, cash and banking, learning Spanish, the food, and the slower pace of life that keeps so many people here. Start at Part 1, or jump to whatever you’re wrestling with. Each chapter links to the full article.

Puerto Vallarta bay and hills — the start of an expat family’s move to Mexico

Part 1 of 10

Why We Moved to Mexico

The many reasons expats land in Puerto Vallarta — retirement, love, adventure, a lower cost of living, better weather, or simply a fresh start — and why there is no wrong one.

Read Part 1 →

Cost of living in Puerto Vallarta — a look at real expat expenses

Part 2 of 10

Is It Really Cheaper?

Busting the “$899 a month” myth: what living in Puerto Vallarta actually costs, and why “affordable” depends entirely on the city, neighborhood, and lifestyle you choose.

Read Part 2 →

Fresh Mexican food and produce in a Puerto Vallarta market

Part 3 of 10

The Food — and What You’ll Miss

The fruit is sweeter, the seafood fresher, the tortillas unreal — but expect a culinary adjustment when you start craving that lox bagel or a favorite import from back home.

Read Part 3 →

Rainy season storm clouds over Puerto Vallarta

Part 4 of 10

The Weather Isn’t Always Paradise

A reality check on the PV summer: months of intense humidity, daily rain, and mold that appears overnight — the part no brochure or vacation visit prepares you for.

Read Part 4 →

Mexican pesos — cash is still essential day to day in Puerto Vallarta

Part 5 of 10

Cash Is Still King

Why you’ll carry more cash than you have in years, how everyday banking really works, and what you actually need to set up once you live here full-time.

Read Part 5 →

Learning Spanish after moving to Puerto Vallarta

Part 6 of 10

Learning Spanish Changes Everything

The author’s biggest lesson: start before you pack your bags. Even a basic foundation transforms daily life — from the market to the doctor’s office.

Read Part 6 →

Healthcare and insurance considerations for expats in Puerto Vallarta

Part 7 of 10

Healthcare: Not What We Expected

The gap between the glowing expat-forum promises and the reality of private healthcare and insurance in Mexico — including how age and pre-existing conditions change the math.

Read Part 7 →

The relaxed pace of life in Puerto Vallarta

Part 8 of 10

The Pace of Life

The author’s favorite chapter: slowing down, letting Monday just be Monday, and recharging in a way that’s genuinely hard to find back home.

Read Part 8 →

Sunset over Puerto Vallarta — the emotional side of relocating

Part 9 of 10

Prepare for Plan B

Vallarta is magical, but it doesn’t work out for everyone. An honest look at why some expats move back after a year or two — and why that’s perfectly okay.

Read Part 9 →

Street tacos and market stalls in Jalisco, Mexico

Part 10 of 10

Tacos, Markets & Everything In Between

A love letter to Jalisco’s food and markets, how much of Mexico’s culinary world is still left to explore, and a fitting close to a year of firsthand lessons.

Read Part 10 →