By Neft Román — Legacy Vallarta Realty
Coming from a country where one bill often covers everything, the first surprise about utilities in Puerto Vallarta is that nothing is bundled. Electricity, water, internet, and gas are four separate providers, four separate accounts, and — the first time — four separate errands to set up.
Electricity: CFE
CFE (Comisión Federal de Electricidad) is the sole electricity provider, reachable 24/7 at 071 for issues. Setting up an account requires your passport and proof of address — a recent utility bill or the property deed. Bills come every two months rather than monthly, and costs swing a lot with air conditioning use: expect roughly 350-500 pesos per two-month period in cooler months and 600-700+ pesos in the heavier AC months. Heavy usage is penalized at a steeper rate to help subsidize lower-usage households, so a poorly insulated unit with AC running constantly can get expensive fast.
Water: SEAPAL
SEAPAL Vallarta handles municipal water, also requiring passport and property deed to open an account. Most residents don’t drink the tap water directly — 5-gallon garrafones of drinking water run around $25 MXN each and are typically delivered or picked up locally.
Internet: Telmex, Izzi, or Total Play
These are the three main options, and fiber is now widely available across the city. Packages run from around $400 to $2,000 MXN a month depending on speed, and it’s worth comparing all three in your specific building since coverage and pricing vary block by block.
Gas: Tank or Cylinder
Unless your building has a centralized stationary tank, gas comes in cylinders delivered by truck — a standard cylinder runs about 300 pesos and typically lasts around a month in winter (more water heating) or up to six weeks in summer. This is one utility that genuinely surprises newcomers, since gas delivery by truck isn’t something most people have dealt with before.
Where to Go From Here
If you’re still finalizing your rental, read renting in Puerto Vallarta: how it really works alongside this — knowing which utilities are or aren’t included in a lease changes your real monthly cost significantly.
This article is for general information only. Rates, providers, and delivery logistics change — confirm current pricing and setup requirements directly with each provider.
Join The Discussion