Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Isla de Margarita Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Isla de Margarita

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,192 per month in Caracas vs $648 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Caracas vs $1,210 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,830 per month in Caracas vs $1,771 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

Caracas costs about 84% more than Isla de Margarita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caracas and Isla de Margarita are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 11% lower, Isla de Margarita 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.97 VES 7,126

$10.10 VES 6,013

18.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 VES 32.8K

$81.5 VES 48.5K

-32.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 VES 6,044

Cappuccino

$2.62 VES 1,557

$2.48 VES 1,474

5.65%

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

$1.26 VES 750

$0.97 VES 580

29.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 VES 618

$1.53 VES 911

-32.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 VES 868

$1.02 VES 609

43.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 VES 1,766

$3.06 VES 1,824

-2.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 VES 1,114

$1.97 VES 1,171

-5.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 VES 1,616

$2.97 VES 1,767

-8.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 VES 893

$1.96 VES 1,167

-23.47%

Eggs

$2.81 VES 1,672

$2.35 VES 1,398

19.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.00 VES 5,951

$8.17 VES 4,865

22.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 VES 4,412

$8.09 VES 4,813

-8.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.51 VES 4,471

$8.03 VES 4,778

-6.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 VES 3,121

$3.89 VES 2,316

34.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 VES 1,058

$1.46 VES 870

21.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 VES 1,359

$1.98 VES 1,179

15.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 VES 1,189

$2.57 VES 1,528

-22.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 VES 1,596

$1.48 VES 883

81.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 VES 1,229

$1.78 VES 1,060

15.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 VES 802

$1.02 VES 607

32.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 VES 1,113

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 VES 2,452

Wine (Bottle)

$11.98 VES 7,131

$4.94 VES 2,938

142.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 VES 864

$1.02 VES 608

42.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 VES 1,158

$1.48 VES 882

31.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 VES 460

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 VES 17.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 VES 3,013

$2.92 VES 1,736

73.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 VES 1,578

$3.02 VES 1,801

-12.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.15 VES 6,043

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 288

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

$25.3K VES 15.1M

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

$40.1K VES 23.9M

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

$20.56 VES 12.2K

$30.35 VES 18.1K

-32.26%

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

$12.82 VES 7,633

$15.09 VES 8,982

-15.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.73 VES 24.2K

$39.38 VES 23.4K

3.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.0 VES 39.9K

$50.4 VES 30.0K

33.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.99 VES 8,925

$15.23 VES 9,064

-1.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 VES 3,550

$5.08 VES 3,023

17.32%

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

$134 VES 79.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,422 VES 3.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 VES 37.6K

$78.9 VES 47.0K

-20.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.62 VES 23.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 VES 62.4K

$99.3 VES 59.1K

5.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 VES 69.6K

$101 VES 60.0K

16.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 VES 273.3K

$304 VES 181.0K

51.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 VES 222.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 VES 577.2K

$494 VES 294.1K

96.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$837 VES 498.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,501 VES 893.6K

$604 VES 359.4K

148.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$681 VES 405.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$297 VES 176.8K

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 Caracas: June 14, 2026

Last update for Isla de Margarita: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Caracas versus $304 in Isla de Margarita. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Caracas versus $82.0 in Isla de Margarita. Groceries tell a different story – $284 in Caracas vs $235 in Isla de Margarita – so Isla de Margarita wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Caracas vs Isla de Margarita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 84%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,788 per month in Caracas and $972 in Isla de Margarita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Isla de Margarita, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Caracas, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Caracas and $82.0 in Isla de Margarita. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isla de Margarita, where all-in costs run around $648, than in Caracas at $1,192. In Isla de Margarita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isla de Margarita – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Isla de Margarita. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caracas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.