Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Maracaibo

For one person, living is cheaper in Maracaibo: $781 a month against $1,621 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
Maracaibo
🇻🇪 Venezuela
$781
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Maracaibo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Budapest and in Maracaibo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,621 per month in Budapest vs $781 in Maracaibo, rent included.

  • Budapest $1,621
  • Maracaibo $781

A couple spends around $2,555 per month in Budapest vs $1,316 in Maracaibo, rent included.

  • Budapest $2,555
  • Maracaibo $1,316

A family of three spends $3,489 per month in Budapest vs $1,851 in Maracaibo, rent included.

  • Budapest $3,489
  • Maracaibo $1,851

Budapest costs about 108% more than Maracaibo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Budapest sits 21% above the global median, while Maracaibo is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Maracaibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.99 Ft 4,551
$10.69 VES 9,348
30.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3 Ft 19.6K
$40.44 VES 35.4K
49.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.96 Ft 3,241
$9.05 VES 7,917
10.06%
Cappuccino
$3.38 Ft 1,100
$2.68 VES 2,340
26.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 Ft 692
$1.15 VES 1,009
85.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 Ft 608
$1.36 VES 1,188
37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 Ft 1,221
$2.30 VES 2,012
63.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 Ft 1,162
$2.96 VES 2,592
20.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Maracaibo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Ft 368
$1.95 VES 1,704
-42.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 Ft 599
$2.20 VES 1,927
-16.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 Ft 777
$1.09 VES 950
119.27%
Eggs
$3.83 Ft 1,245
$3.60 VES 3,148
6.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.33 Ft 3,686
$6.59 VES 5,765
71.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.74 Ft 2,192
$6.21 VES 5,434
8.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,780
$7.30 VES 6,387
101.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.84 Ft 597
$4.64 VES 4,060
-60.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 Ft 653
$1.40 VES 1,223
43.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 Ft 767
$1.62 VES 1,413
45.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 Ft 1,226
$1.41 VES 1,237
167.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 Ft 313
$1.18 VES 1,036
-18.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 Ft 334
$1.78 VES 1,555
-42.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 Ft 509
$1.02 VES 891
52.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 Ft 216
$2.01 VES 1,762
-67.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,591
$2.94 VES 2,574
170.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.01 Ft 1,954
$8.87 VES 7,759
-32.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 Ft 421
$1.08 VES 946
20.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 Ft 676
$2.72 VES 2,379
-23.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Maracaibo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 Ft 489
$0.46 VES 403
226.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.61 Ft 8,982
$41.91 VES 36.7K
-34.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 Ft 1,074
$3.95 VES 3,452
-16.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 Ft 424
$2.04 VES 1,787
-36.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.78 Ft 6,436
$17.18 VES 15.0K
15.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 Ft 591
$0.74 VES 650
144.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K Ft 9.5M
$14.7K VES 12.9M
99.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
$27.9K VES 24.4M
22.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Maracaibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 Ft 55.3K
$63.5 VES 55.5K
167.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.98 Ft 7,802
$7.43 VES 6,497
222.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.42 Ft 7,621
$24.55 VES 21.5K
-4.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Maracaibo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
$33.32 VES 29.1K
98.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 Ft 6,239
$28.43 VES 24.9K
-32.54%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 Ft 3,098
$5.10 VES 4,461
86.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Maracaibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$537 Ft 174.6K
$153 VES 133.7K
251.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
$7,068 VES 6.2M
134.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Maracaibo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 Ft 33.0K
$27.67 VES 24.2K
266.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
$32.70 VES 28.6K
31.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 Ft 36.7K
$61.6 VES 53.9K
83.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.6K
$58.1 VES 50.8K
104.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Maracaibo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 Ft 262.0K
$161 VES 140.5K
401.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 Ft 204.7K
$91.8 VES 80.3K
585.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,549 Ft 504.1K
$305 VES 266.7K
408.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 Ft 379.7K
$198 VES 173.3K
488.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
$751 VES 656.9K
647.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
$508 VES 444.1K
681.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Maracaibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,626 Ft 529.0K
$214 VES 187.2K
659.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
20
-67.85%

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

Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$629
Maracaibo
$92 85.4% $537
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$258
Maracaibo
$242 6% $16
Eating Out
Budapest
$224
Maracaibo
$172 23.2% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$217
Maracaibo
$95 56.1% $122
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$169
Maracaibo
$81 52.1% $88
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$85
Maracaibo
$44 49% $42
Getting Around
Budapest
$43
Maracaibo
$58 33.4% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $805 in Budapest versus $161 in Maracaibo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 660% higher in Budapest, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Budapest versus $40.00 in Maracaibo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $242 – making Maracaibo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇻🇪 Maracaibo
🕒 Local time
08:07 8:07 AM
02:07 2:07 AM
6 h behind Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
2,000,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VES, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 325 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 365 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR).

Venezuelan Bolívar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 875 VES (1,000 VES = 1.14 USD). 1 EUR = 981 VES (1,000 VES = 1.02 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Maracaibo 9,190 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Maracaibo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Budapest vs Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maracaibo cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 108%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,432 per month in Budapest and $1,171 in Maracaibo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maracaibo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 52% less in Maracaibo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $537 per month in Budapest and $153 in Maracaibo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Budapest or in Maracaibo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maracaibo, where all-in costs run around $781, than in Budapest at $1,621. In Maracaibo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Maracaibo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maracaibo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Budapest or Maracaibo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maracaibo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budapest makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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