Miami vs Puerto Vallarta
Miami comes out ahead overall, winning 3 of 7 criteria.
Summary
Miami edges out Puerto Vallarta overall (6.3 vs 6.1), but the margin is thin enough that a single strong priority — like cost of living — could reasonably flip your personal decision the other way.
Quick answers
Safety: Miami and Puerto Vallarta tie on this (6/10 each).
Climate: Miami and Puerto Vallarta tie on this (8/10 each).
Overall, Miami scores higher (6.3/10 vs 6.1/10) across all seven criteria combined.
Cost of living: Puerto Vallarta (6/10 vs 4/10).
Miami — Miami scores higher once we weight toward households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (6.2 vs 6.1 for Miami vs Puerto Vallarta), driven largely by safety.
Miami and Puerto Vallarta are a close call for remote work based on internet and cost of living.
Where each city wins
- +Public transport: slightly better than Puerto Vallarta (5.0 vs 4.0)
- +Healthcare: slightly better than Puerto Vallarta (7.0 vs 6.0)
- +Internet & connectivity: slightly better than Puerto Vallarta (8.0 vs 7.0)
- +Cost of living: notably better than Miami (6.0 vs 4.0)
Which city fits your profile?
Miami and Puerto Vallarta score within a rounding error of each other for remote workers who need fast internet and an affordable, pleasant base, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Miami and Puerto Vallarta score within a rounding error of each other for independent workers balancing cost of living against healthcare access, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Miami scores higher once we weight toward households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (6.2 vs 6.1 for Miami vs Puerto Vallarta), driven largely by safety.
Puerto Vallarta scores higher once we weight toward movers for whom affordability outweighs every other factor (5.9 vs 6.1 for Miami vs Puerto Vallarta), driven largely by cost of living.
Miami scores higher once we weight toward people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (6.3 vs 6.1 for Miami vs Puerto Vallarta), driven largely by safety.
Miami and Puerto Vallarta score within a rounding error of each other for retirees prioritizing healthcare, climate and a calm environment over nightlife or internet speed, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Miami and Puerto Vallarta score within a rounding error of each other for students who need affordability, transit and a lively social scene, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Miami scores higher once we weight toward expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected (6.4 vs 6.1 for Miami vs Puerto Vallarta), driven largely by safety.
Miami and Puerto Vallarta score within a rounding error of each other for founders and small business owners who need reliable connectivity and a livable base without big-city costs, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Miami and Puerto Vallarta score within a rounding error of each other for early-career movers who want nightlife and transit within budget, without yet prioritizing healthcare or climate, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Which city should you choose?
Pick Miami if you're a young family, safety-first mover, or expat — Pick Puerto Vallarta instead if you're more of a budget-conscious mover.