Cost of Living Comparison Between Barquisimeto and Caracas Cost of Living Comparison Between Barquisimeto and Caracas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $557 in Barquisimeto versus $1,203 in Caracas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $939 in Barquisimeto versus $1,989 in Caracas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,322 in Barquisimeto versus $2,775 in Caracas.

Living in Barquisimeto costs roughly 54% less than in Caracas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Barquisimeto 58% lower, Caracas 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.40 VES 4,124

$11.99 VES 6,679

-38.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.54 VES 17.0K

$55.1 VES 30.7K

-44.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 VES 5,655

$10.13 VES 5,646

0.20%

Cappuccino

$1.01 VES 565

$2.61 VES 1,457

-61.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 VES 658

$1.25 VES 699

-5.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 VES 397

$0.98 VES 545

-27.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 VES 821

$1.53 VES 855

-3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 VES 856

$3.06 VES 1,708

-49.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 VES 850

$1.88 VES 1,050

-18.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 VES 1,383

$2.69 VES 1,500

-7.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 VES 550

$1.43 VES 796

-30.77%

Eggs

$1.62 VES 902

$2.84 VES 1,585

-42.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.10 VES 2,284

$9.69 VES 5,398

-57.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 VES 2,817

$7.66 VES 4,268

-34.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.05 VES 3,926

$7.70 VES 4,290

-8.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 VES 2,734

$5.24 VES 2,919

-6.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 VES 547

$1.81 VES 1,009

-45.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 VES 548

$2.21 VES 1,229

-55.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 VES 544

$2.05 VES 1,140

-52.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 VES 550

$2.69 VES 1,497

-63.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 VES 819

$2.05 VES 1,142

-28.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 VES 288

$1.34 VES 747

-61.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 VES 566

$1.87 VES 1,044

-45.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 VES 1,713

$4.08 VES 2,274

-24.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.37 VES 7,453

$10.83 VES 6,033

23.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 VES 434

$1.50 VES 837

-48.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 VES 567

$2.04 VES 1,137

-50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 VES 245

$0.76 VES 425

-42.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.45 VES 17.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 VES 2,847

$5.03 VES 2,801

1.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 VES 1,485

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.91 VES 5,520

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 286

$0.48 VES 268

6.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K VES 13.8M

$25.2K VES 14.1M

-1.88%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.4K VES 20.3M

$39.5K VES 22.0M

-7.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$20.08 VES 11.2K

$20.26 VES 11.3K

-0.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.08 VES 5,618

$13.05 VES 7,271

-22.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.41 VES 22.5K

$39.78 VES 22.2K

1.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.57 VES 12.6K

$69.0 VES 38.4K

-67.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 VES 8,446

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 VES 2,501

$5.92 VES 3,299

-24.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$50.1 VES 27.9K

$131 VES 73.0K

-61.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,363 VES 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.93 VES 15.6K

$64.0 VES 35.7K

-56.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.91 VES 13.9K

$39.66 VES 22.1K

-37.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.3 VES 28.0K

$104 VES 57.8K

-51.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.45 VES 27.6K

$115 VES 64.1K

-57.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 VES 110.9K

$451 VES 251.1K

-55.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.7 VES 28.2K

$372 VES 207.3K

-86.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 VES 136.9K

$979 VES 545.3K

-74.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 VES 82.9K

$845 VES 470.8K

-82.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$469 VES 261.3K

$1,450 VES 807.9K

-67.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$248 VES 138.4K

$687 VES 382.7K

-63.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 VES 105.9K

$289 VES 161.0K

-34.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barquisimeto: May 31, 2026

Last update for Caracas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Barquisimeto and $451 in Caracas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caracas pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $31.00 in Barquisimeto vs $55.0 in Caracas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $283 per month, with Barquisimeto cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Barquisimeto vs Caracas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barquisimeto and Caracas differ by about 116% in total monthly costs ($557 vs $1,203 including rent). Barquisimeto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Caracas earns 52% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $199 in Barquisimeto versus $451 in Caracas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Caracas. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $557 per month in Barquisimeto versus $1,203 in Caracas – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $557 in Barquisimeto versus $1,203 in Caracas, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Barquisimeto but tight or insufficient in Caracas. The gap between the two cities makes Barquisimeto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Barquisimeto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Caracas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.