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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,313 per month in Caracas vs $780 in Maracaibo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Caracas vs $1,279 in Maracaibo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,162 per month in Caracas vs $1,779 in Maracaibo, rent included.

Caracas costs about 68% more than Maracaibo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caracas and Maracaibo are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 4% lower, Maracaibo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.86 VES 8,815

$10.68 VES 8,667

1.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.5 VES 55.6K

$40.21 VES 32.6K

70.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 VES 8,971

$9.07 VES 7,363

21.83%

Cappuccino

$3.53 VES 2,862

$2.65 VES 2,153

33.21%

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

$1.49 VES 1,206

$1.20 VES 972

24.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 VES 1,063

$1.30 VES 1,056

0.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 VES 1,647

$2.30 VES 1,864

-11.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 VES 2,401

$3.02 VES 2,448

-1.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.75 VES 2,235

$1.71 VES 1,385

60.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 VES 1,819

$2.11 VES 1,713

6.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 VES 1,522

$1.03 VES 837

81.55%

Eggs

$4.76 VES 3,865

$3.62 VES 2,939

31.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.01 VES 8,126

$6.51 VES 5,286

53.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.11 VES 7,391

$6.42 VES 5,210

41.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 VES 9,126

$7.27 VES 5,905

54.61%

Apples (1kg)

$7.11 VES 5,771

$4.66 VES 3,780

52.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 VES 1,609

$1.39 VES 1,130

42.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 VES 1,766

$1.60 VES 1,295

36.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.34 VES 1,900

$1.42 VES 1,156

64.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 VES 1,925

$1.18 VES 956

100.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 VES 1,729

$1.68 VES 1,365

26.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 VES 1,277

$1.02 VES 827

53.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 VES 1,959

$2.06 VES 1,672

16.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.67 VES 3,789

$2.97 VES 2,413

57.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.92 VES 9,672

$8.89 VES 7,214

34.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 VES 1,105

$1.04 VES 847

30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 VES 1,664

$2.69 VES 2,187

-23.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 VES 425

$0.46 VES 375

13.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.55 VES 24.8K

$42.28 VES 34.3K

-27.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 VES 4,147

$3.90 VES 3,164

31.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 VES 2,295

$2.03 VES 1,650

39.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.28 VES 12.4K

$17.43 VES 14.1K

-12.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 VES 673

$0.67 VES 542

23.88%

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

$25.1K VES 20.4M

$15.0K VES 12.2M

67.25%

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

$38.5K VES 31.3M

$28.5K VES 23.2M

34.89%

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

$23.11 VES 18.8K

$64.1 VES 52.0K

-63.95%

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

$11.85 VES 9,617

$7.37 VES 5,979

60.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.68 VES 29.8K

$24.72 VES 20.1K

48.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.0 VES 54.4K

$33.53 VES 27.2K

99.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.84 VES 14.5K

$28.26 VES 22.9K

-36.87%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 VES 5,352

$4.97 VES 4,037

32.60%

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

$161 VES 131.0K

$149 VES 120.8K

8.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,113 VES 5.0M

$7,151 VES 5.8M

-14.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.5 VES 60.5K

$27.55 VES 22.4K

170.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.55 VES 37.8K

$32.66 VES 26.5K

42.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 VES 99.6K

$61.3 VES 49.7K

100.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 VES 114.2K

$57.7 VES 46.8K

143.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 VES 493.9K

$160 VES 129.8K

280.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 VES 351.7K

$94.5 VES 76.7K

358.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,104 VES 895.9K

$296 VES 239.9K

273.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$866 VES 703.0K

$200 VES 162.7K

332.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,457 VES 1.2M

$752 VES 610.1K

93.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$681 VES 552.9K

$491 VES 398.2K

38.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$303 VES 246.1K

$198 VES 161.0K

52.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.00%

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

Last update for Caracas: August 30, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $608 in Caracas versus $160 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 53% 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 $68.0 in Caracas versus $40.00 in Maracaibo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $239 – 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 68%, 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 $1,969 per month in Caracas and $1,170 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 38% less in Maracaibo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Caracas and $149 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 $780, than in Caracas at $1,313. 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.