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: $861 in Barquisimeto versus $1,313 in Caracas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,472 in Barquisimeto versus $2,237 in Caracas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,083 in Barquisimeto versus $3,162 in Caracas.

Living in Barquisimeto costs roughly 34% less than in Caracas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Barquisimeto 37% lower, Caracas 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.95 VES 8,078

$10.86 VES 8,815

-8.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.50 VES 40.2K

$68.5 VES 55.6K

-27.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.52 VES 9,350

$11.05 VES 8,971

4.25%

Cappuccino

$1.72 VES 1,393

$3.53 VES 2,862

-51.27%

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

$1.52 VES 1,236

$1.49 VES 1,206

2.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 VES 932

$1.31 VES 1,063

-12.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 VES 1,038

$2.03 VES 1,647

-36.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 VES 2,724

$2.96 VES 2,401

13.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.98 VES 2,420

$2.75 VES 2,235

8.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 VES 1,921

$2.24 VES 1,819

5.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 VES 1,734

$1.87 VES 1,522

14.44%

Eggs

$3.27 VES 2,657

$4.76 VES 3,865

-31.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 VES 6,375

$10.01 VES 8,126

-21.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.03 VES 7,331

$9.11 VES 7,391

-0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.65 VES 8,647

$11.24 VES 9,126

-5.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 VES 3,730

$7.11 VES 5,771

-35.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 VES 1,637

$1.98 VES 1,609

2.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 VES 597

$2.18 VES 1,766

-66.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 VES 746

$2.34 VES 1,900

-60.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 VES 775

$2.37 VES 1,925

-59.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 VES 1,095

$2.13 VES 1,729

-36.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 VES 529

$1.57 VES 1,277

-58.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 VES 1,309

$2.41 VES 1,959

-33.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 VES 2,368

$4.67 VES 3,789

-37.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.82 VES 9,590

$11.92 VES 9,672

-0.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 VES 1,018

$1.36 VES 1,105

-8.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 VES 2,284

$2.05 VES 1,664

37.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 VES 324

$0.52 VES 425

-23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.68 VES 32.2K

$30.55 VES 24.8K

29.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 VES 4,026

$5.11 VES 4,147

-2.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.54 VES 2,063

$2.83 VES 2,295

-10.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.22 VES 12.4K

$15.28 VES 12.4K

-0.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 VES 611

$0.83 VES 673

-9.64%

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

$25.1K VES 20.4M

0.11%

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

$31.3K VES 25.4M

$38.5K VES 31.3M

-18.70%

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

$15.36 VES 12.5K

$23.11 VES 18.8K

-33.54%

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

$7.87 VES 6,386

$11.85 VES 9,617

-33.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.72 VES 29.8K

$36.68 VES 29.8K

0.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.48 VES 27.2K

$67.0 VES 54.4K

-50.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.72 VES 7,081

$17.84 VES 14.5K

-51.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 VES 4,100

$6.59 VES 5,352

-23.37%

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

$56.4 VES 45.8K

$161 VES 131.0K

-65.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$494 VES 401.1K

$6,113 VES 5.0M

-91.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.83 VES 38.0K

$74.5 VES 60.5K

-37.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.74 VES 32.3K

$46.55 VES 37.8K

-14.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 VES 83.5K

$123 VES 99.6K

-16.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 VES 66.1K

$141 VES 114.2K

-42.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 VES 173.2K

$608 VES 493.9K

-64.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 VES 115.3K

$433 VES 351.7K

-67.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 VES 376.7K

$1,104 VES 895.9K

-57.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 VES 261.2K

$866 VES 703.0K

-62.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$474 VES 384.4K

$1,457 VES 1.2M

-67.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$253 VES 205.4K

$681 VES 552.9K

-62.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 VES 150.6K

$303 VES 246.1K

-38.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.64%

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

Last update for Barquisimeto: September 1, 2026

Last update for Caracas: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Barquisimeto and $608 in Caracas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caracas pays 63% 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: $49.00 in Barquisimeto vs $68.0 in Caracas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $335 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 52% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $1,313 including rent). Barquisimeto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 63% lower in Caracas. 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: $213 in Barquisimeto versus $608 in Caracas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Barquisimeto – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $68.0 in Caracas. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Barquisimeto versus $1,313 in Caracas – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $861 in Barquisimeto versus $1,313 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 52% less than in Caracas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.