Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Caracas

For one person, living is cheaper in Caracas: $1,312 a month against $2,232 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,232
/mo nomad
Caracas
🇻🇪 Venezuela
$1,312
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Calgary and in Caracas

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,232 in Calgary versus $1,312 in Caracas.

  • Calgary $2,232
  • Caracas $1,312

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,363 in Calgary versus $2,236 in Caracas.

  • Calgary $3,363
  • Caracas $2,236

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,493 in Calgary versus $3,160 in Caracas.

  • Calgary $4,493
  • Caracas $3,160

Living in Calgary is roughly 70% more expensive than in Caracas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Calgary is 67% above, Caracas is 2% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Caracas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.22 CA$24.54
$10.63 VES 9,293
61.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2 CA$101
$68.2 VES 59.6K
4.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.56 CA$15.06
$10.99 VES 9,611
-3.91%
Cappuccino
$3.77 CA$5.38
$3.73 VES 3,266
1.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 CA$2.73
$1.54 VES 1,349
24.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 CA$2.63
$1.28 VES 1,122
43.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 CA$6.93
$2.05 VES 1,796
137.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 CA$7.91
$2.91 VES 2,546
90.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Caracas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 CA$2.68
$2.76 VES 2,413
-31.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 CA$3.89
$2.32 VES 2,030
17.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.34 CA$7.61
$1.89 VES 1,655
182.54%
Eggs
$3.77 CA$5.37
$4.82 VES 4,219
-21.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.29 CA$16.09
$10.18 VES 8,900
10.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.34
$9.44 VES 8,260
21.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.26 CA$26.03
$11.51 VES 10.1K
58.64%
Apples (1kg)
$4.64 CA$6.62
$7.23 VES 6,322
-35.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.05
$1.96 VES 1,713
-26.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.22 CA$6.02
$2.13 VES 1,864
98.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.86 CA$5.50
$2.37 VES 2,070
62.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.74
$2.24 VES 1,956
16.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 CA$3.79
$2.24 VES 1,957
18.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 CA$3.69
$1.61 VES 1,411
60.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 CA$2.19
$2.41 VES 2,104
-36.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.26 CA$20.32
$4.57 VES 3,994
212.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.27 CA$21.76
$12.02 VES 10.5K
27.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 CA$3.44
$1.37 VES 1,196
75.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 CA$4.41
$2.17 VES 1,896
42.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Caracas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.88 CA$4.11
$0.51 VES 449
464.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.7 CA$126
$29.63 VES 25.9K
199.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 CA$4.61
$4.88 VES 4,271
-33.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 CA$1.97
$2.68 VES 2,346
-48.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.49 CA$37.75
$15.17 VES 13.3K
74.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 CA$1.68
$0.86 VES 754
37.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K CA$40.3K
$25.1K VES 22.0M
12.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K CA$29.5K
$38.6K VES 33.8M
-46.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Caracas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$159 CA$227
$22.07 VES 19.3K
621.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.61 CA$53.6
$11.81 VES 10.3K
218.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.68 CA$70.8
$38.64 VES 33.8K
28.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Caracas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.3 CA$75.9
$66.8 VES 58.5K
-20.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.31 CA$26.10
$17.23 VES 15.1K
6.27%
Cinema Ticket
$14.08 CA$20.06
$6.48 VES 5,666
117.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Caracas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$809 CA$1,154
$159 VES 139.5K
407.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K CA$22.6K
$6,138 VES 5.4M
158.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Caracas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 CA$83.8
$77.8 VES 68.0K
-24.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84 CA$55.4
$50.6 VES 44.2K
-23.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.4 CA$130
$136 VES 119.2K
-32.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 CA$155
$136 VES 119.2K
-20.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Caracas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 CA$1,764
$619 VES 541.0K
100.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$996 CA$1,420
$418 VES 365.3K
138.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,908 CA$2,720
$1,106 VES 966.9K
72.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 CA$2,382
$887 VES 775.5K
88.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,530 CA$5,032
$1,458 VES 1.3M
142.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,336 CA$4,755
$690 VES 603.7K
383.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Caracas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,130 CA$4,461
$304 VES 265.6K
930.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.51
22
-79.50%

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

Last update for Calgary: October 3, 2026

Last update for Caracas: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Calgary
$996
Caracas
$418 58.1% $578
Groceries & Markets
Calgary
$387
Caracas
$340 12.2% $47
Eating Out
Calgary
$265
Caracas
$190 28.3% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
$247
Caracas
$73 70.6% $174
Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
$134
Caracas
$180 34.5% $46
Getting Around
Calgary
$110
Caracas
$50 54.7% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
$81
Caracas
$80 2% $1.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,237 in Calgary and $619 in Caracas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 931% 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: $71.0 in Calgary vs $68.0 in Caracas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $340 per month, with Caracas cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Calgary
🇻🇪 Caracas
🕒 Local time
02:51 2:51 AM
04:51 4:51 AM
2 h ahead of Calgary
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,267,344
3,274,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VES, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 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
  • Calgary Caracas 6,200 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Calgary
  • Caracas

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
Calgary vs Caracas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caracas cheaper than Calgary?
Caracas is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Caracas?
Average pay runs 931% higher in Calgary, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Caracas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,237 in Calgary versus $619 in Caracas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or in Caracas?
Dining out is cheaper in Caracas – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Calgary and in Caracas?
All in, you'll spend $2,232 per month in Calgary versus $1,312 in Caracas – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Calgary or in Caracas?
At $1,312 in Caracas versus $2,232 in Calgary, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Caracas but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Caracas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Calgary or in Caracas?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Caracas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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