Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Maracaibo Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Maracaibo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,187 per month in Caracas vs $745 in Maracaibo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,010 per month in Caracas vs $1,249 in Maracaibo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Caracas vs $1,753 in Maracaibo, rent included.

Caracas costs about 59% more than Maracaibo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caracas and Maracaibo are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 11% lower, Maracaibo 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 VES 8,967

$10.59 VES 7,784

15.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.2 VES 39.8K

$40.33 VES 29.6K

34.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 7,445

$8.79 VES 6,458

15.24%

Cappuccino

$2.52 VES 1,854

$2.75 VES 2,025

-8.36%

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

$1.32 VES 969

$1.15 VES 844

14.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 VES 701

$1.30 VES 956

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 1,122

$2.20 VES 1,614

-30.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 VES 2,143

$3.03 VES 2,228

-3.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 VES 1,368

$1.72 VES 1,266

8.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 VES 2,028

$2.01 VES 1,476

37.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 VES 1,043

$1.11 VES 817

27.93%

Eggs

$2.84 VES 2,091

$3.04 VES 2,236

-6.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 VES 7,339

$5.90 VES 4,335

69.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 VES 5,375

$5.27 VES 3,874

38.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.40 VES 5,439

$6.34 VES 4,657

16.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.33 VES 3,919

$4.31 VES 3,166

23.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 VES 1,354

$1.37 VES 1,007

34.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 VES 1,673

$1.68 VES 1,238

35.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 VES 1,460

$1.48 VES 1,084

34.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 VES 1,988

$1.17 VES 861

130.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 VES 1,515

$1.69 VES 1,241

21.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 VES 985

$0.99 VES 726

35.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 VES 1,446

$1.63 VES 1,202

20.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 VES 2,907

$3.44 VES 2,529

15.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.20 VES 8,966

$9.27 VES 6,814

31.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 VES 1,114

$1.07 VES 783

42.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 VES 1,453

$2.65 VES 1,946

-25.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 VES 578

$0.49 VES 358

61.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 VES 22.4K

$42.21 VES 31.0K

-27.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 VES 3,577

$3.90 VES 2,866

24.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 VES 1,995

$1.96 VES 1,443

38.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 VES 7,317

$17.73 VES 13.0K

-43.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 376

$0.52 VES 380

-1.92%

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

$24.7K VES 18.2M

$22.8K VES 16.8M

8.43%

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

$40.0K VES 29.4M

$31.2K VES 22.9M

28.00%

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

$19.82 VES 14.6K

$16.36 VES 12.0K

21.15%

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

$13.26 VES 9,745

$8.61 VES 6,328

54.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.50 VES 29.0K

$25.41 VES 18.7K

55.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 VES 49.9K

$34.13 VES 25.1K

98.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.57 VES 11.4K

$23.62 VES 17.4K

-34.08%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 VES 4,475

$4.97 VES 3,650

22.54%

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

$130 VES 95.4K

$111 VES 81.7K

16.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,392 VES 4.0M

$14.3K VES 10.5M

-62.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 VES 46.7K

$41.23 VES 30.3K

54.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.35 VES 28.9K

$41.87 VES 30.8K

-6.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 VES 76.5K

$58.7 VES 43.1K

77.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 VES 83.1K

$59.6 VES 43.8K

89.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 VES 333.2K

$181 VES 132.7K

151.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 VES 269.9K

$102 VES 75.1K

259.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 VES 722.3K

$327 VES 240.4K

200.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$840 VES 617.8K

$213 VES 156.3K

295.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,480 VES 1.1M

$763 VES 561.2K

93.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$666 VES 489.5K

$497 VES 365.6K

33.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 VES 225.4K

$198 VES 145.8K

54.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

26.6

-19.81%

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

Last update for Caracas: July 13, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Caracas versus $181 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 55% higher in Caracas, 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 $54.0 in Caracas versus $40.00 in Maracaibo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $220 – making Maracaibo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 59%, 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 $1,780 per month in Caracas and $1,118 in Maracaibo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 39% less in Maracaibo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $130 per month in Caracas and $111 in Maracaibo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maracaibo, where all-in costs run around $745, than in Caracas at $1,187. In Maracaibo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Maracaibo. 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.