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: $538 in Barquisimeto versus $1,187 in Caracas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $918 in Barquisimeto versus $2,010 in Caracas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,298 in Barquisimeto versus $2,833 in Caracas.

Living in Barquisimeto costs roughly 55% less than in Caracas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Barquisimeto 60% lower, Caracas 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 VES 5,384

$12.20 VES 8,967

-40.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.12 VES 22.1K

$54.2 VES 39.8K

-44.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.96 VES 7,319

$10.13 VES 7,445

-1.68%

Cappuccino

$0.97 VES 715

$2.52 VES 1,854

-61.51%

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

$1.20 VES 884

$1.32 VES 969

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 VES 540

$0.95 VES 701

-23.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 VES 1,085

$1.53 VES 1,122

-3.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 VES 1,135

$2.92 VES 2,143

-47.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 VES 1,117

$1.86 VES 1,368

-18.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 VES 1,859

$2.76 VES 2,028

-8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 VES 747

$1.42 VES 1,043

-28.17%

Eggs

$1.64 VES 1,207

$2.84 VES 2,091

-42.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.06 VES 2,983

$9.98 VES 7,339

-59.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.03 VES 3,698

$7.31 VES 5,375

-31.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.95 VES 5,109

$7.40 VES 5,439

-6.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 VES 3,598

$5.33 VES 3,919

-8.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 VES 723

$1.84 VES 1,354

-46.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 VES 744

$2.28 VES 1,673

-55.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 VES 756

$1.99 VES 1,460

-48.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 VES 727

$2.70 VES 1,988

-63.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 VES 1,112

$2.06 VES 1,515

-26.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 VES 384

$1.34 VES 985

-61.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 VES 748

$1.97 VES 1,446

-48.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 VES 2,156

$3.96 VES 2,907

-26.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.34 VES 9,807

$12.20 VES 8,966

9.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 VES 583

$1.52 VES 1,114

-48.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 718

$1.98 VES 1,453

-50.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 VES 323

$0.79 VES 578

-44.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 VES 22.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.88 VES 3,584

$4.87 VES 3,577

0.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 VES 1,995

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 VES 7,317

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 VES 359

$0.51 VES 376

-3.92%

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

$24.5K VES 18.0M

$24.7K VES 18.2M

-0.94%

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

$35.7K VES 26.3M

$40.0K VES 29.4M

-10.55%

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

$19.97 VES 14.7K

$19.82 VES 14.6K

0.76%

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

$10.07 VES 7,399

$13.26 VES 9,745

-24.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.16 VES 29.5K

$39.50 VES 29.0K

1.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.92 VES 16.9K

$67.9 VES 49.9K

-66.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.57 VES 11.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.48 VES 3,294

$6.09 VES 4,475

-26.44%

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

$50.2 VES 36.9K

$130 VES 95.4K

-61.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,392 VES 4.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.49 VES 20.2K

$63.5 VES 46.7K

-56.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.55 VES 18.0K

$39.35 VES 28.9K

-37.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.8 VES 37.4K

$104 VES 76.5K

-51.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.06 VES 36.1K

$113 VES 83.1K

-56.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 VES 148.7K

$453 VES 333.2K

-55.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.50 VES 36.4K

$367 VES 269.9K

-86.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$253 VES 185.9K

$983 VES 722.3K

-74.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 VES 110.7K

$840 VES 617.8K

-82.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$473 VES 348.0K

$1,480 VES 1.1M

-68.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$245 VES 180.3K

$666 VES 489.5K

-63.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 VES 138.4K

$307 VES 225.4K

-38.60%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Caracas: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $202 in Barquisimeto and $453 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: $30.00 in Barquisimeto vs $54.0 in Caracas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $286 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 120% in total monthly costs ($538 vs $1,187 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: $202 in Barquisimeto versus $453 in Caracas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Caracas. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $538 per month in Barquisimeto versus $1,187 in Caracas – a 120% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $538 in Barquisimeto versus $1,187 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 120% less than in Caracas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.