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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,203 per month in Caracas vs $734 in Maracaibo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,989 per month in Caracas vs $1,244 in Maracaibo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,775 per month in Caracas vs $1,754 in Maracaibo, rent included.

Caracas costs about 64% more than Maracaibo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caracas and Maracaibo are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 10% lower, Maracaibo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 VES 6,700

$10.37 VES 5,795

15.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 VES 30.8K

$39.97 VES 22.3K

37.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 5,663

$8.82 VES 4,931

14.85%

Cappuccino

$2.61 VES 1,461

$2.65 VES 1,480

-1.51%

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

$1.25 VES 701

$1.20 VES 673

4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 546

$1.30 VES 727

-24.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 858

$2.32 VES 1,294

-34.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 VES 1,713

$2.95 VES 1,648

3.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 VES 1,053

$1.79 VES 999

5.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 VES 1,505

$1.94 VES 1,084

38.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 VES 798

$1.09 VES 609

31.19%

Eggs

$2.84 VES 1,590

$3.19 VES 1,781

-10.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 VES 5,414

$5.95 VES 3,328

62.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.66 VES 4,281

$5.39 VES 3,012

42.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.70 VES 4,304

$6.08 VES 3,397

26.64%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 VES 2,928

$4.51 VES 2,521

16.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 VES 1,012

$1.38 VES 771

31.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 VES 1,233

$1.71 VES 957

29.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,144

$1.47 VES 822

39.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 VES 1,501

$1.16 VES 651

131.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,145

$1.62 VES 908

26.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 VES 749

$1.01 VES 565

32.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 VES 1,047

$1.60 VES 892

16.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 VES 2,281

$3.43 VES 1,920

18.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.83 VES 6,051

$8.97 VES 5,012

20.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 VES 839

$1.06 VES 593

41.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 VES 1,140

$2.64 VES 1,478

-22.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 VES 427

$0.51 VES 288

49.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.45 VES 17.0K

$41.83 VES 23.4K

-27.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 VES 2,810

$4.11 VES 2,297

22.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 VES 1,490

$1.95 VES 1,091

36.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.91 VES 5,537

$17.77 VES 9,931

-44.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 269

$0.48 VES 270

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

$25.2K VES 14.1M

$22.2K VES 12.4M

13.61%

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

$39.5K VES 22.1M

$31.0K VES 17.3M

27.52%

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

$20.26 VES 11.3K

$16.22 VES 9,066

24.91%

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

$13.05 VES 7,293

$9.02 VES 5,044

44.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.78 VES 22.2K

$25.85 VES 14.5K

53.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.0 VES 38.5K

$34.34 VES 19.2K

100.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 VES 8,472

$23.43 VES 13.1K

-35.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 VES 3,310

$5.04 VES 2,816

17.46%

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

$131 VES 73.3K

$112 VES 62.7K

16.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,363 VES 3.0M

$13.9K VES 7.8M

-61.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 VES 35.8K

$41.75 VES 23.3K

53.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.66 VES 22.2K

$42.17 VES 23.6K

-5.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 VES 58.0K

$57.8 VES 32.3K

79.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 VES 64.3K

$60.3 VES 33.7K

90.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 VES 251.9K

$180 VES 100.8K

149.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 VES 208.0K

$101 VES 56.2K

270.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$979 VES 547.0K

$330 VES 184.2K

196.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$845 VES 472.3K

$209 VES 116.9K

303.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,450 VES 810.4K

$759 VES 424.3K

90.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$687 VES 383.9K

$502 VES 280.4K

36.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$289 VES 161.5K

$196 VES 109.8K

47.03%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $451 in Caracas versus $180 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 47% 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 $55.0 in Caracas versus $40.00 in Maracaibo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $221 – 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 64%, 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 $1,804 per month in Caracas and $1,101 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 37% less in Maracaibo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $131 per month in Caracas and $112 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 $734, than in Caracas at $1,203. 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.