Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Maracay Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Maracay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,164 per month in Caracas vs $658 in Maracay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,972 per month in Caracas vs $1,133 in Maracay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,781 per month in Caracas vs $1,607 in Maracay, rent included.

Caracas costs about 77% more than Maracay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Caracas and Maracay are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 13% lower, Maracay 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.08 VES 9,020

$12.07 VES 9,013

0.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.0 VES 41.8K

$55.9 VES 41.7K

0.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 VES 7,529

$7.09 VES 5,297

42.17%

Cappuccino

$2.60 VES 1,940

$1.31 VES 980

98.47%

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

$1.27 VES 948

$1.26 VES 943

0.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 729

$0.98 VES 731

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 VES 1,102

$1.53 VES 1,140

-3.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 VES 2,272

$2.06 VES 1,536

47.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 VES 1,394

$1.81 VES 1,352

3.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 VES 2,098

$2.71 VES 2,023

3.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 VES 1,070

$1.07 VES 800

33.64%

Eggs

$2.81 VES 2,096

$2.23 VES 1,663

26.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.88 VES 7,377

$6.66 VES 4,975

48.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.40 VES 5,529

$5.56 VES 4,152

33.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.67 VES 5,731

$7.41 VES 5,536

3.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 VES 3,922

$4.02 VES 3,005

30.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 VES 1,378

$1.79 VES 1,339

3.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 VES 1,699

$2.17 VES 1,624

4.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 VES 1,479

$2.01 VES 1,498

-1.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 VES 1,917

$2.67 VES 1,994

-3.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 VES 1,554

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 VES 1,022

$1.35 VES 1,007

1.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 VES 1,469

$1.93 VES 1,444

2.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 VES 2,934

$2.48 VES 1,849

58.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.24 VES 9,141

$9.81 VES 7,324

24.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 VES 1,082

$1.13 VES 842

28.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 VES 1,459

$1.77 VES 1,325

10.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 VES 541

$0.29 VES 214

148.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.49 VES 22.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 VES 3,726

$3.05 VES 2,276

63.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.78 VES 2,073

$2.71 VES 2,027

2.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.87 VES 7,372

$10.06 VES 7,514

-1.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 VES 366

$0.49 VES 364

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

$24.8K VES 18.5M

$25.2K VES 18.9M

-1.68%

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

$39.3K VES 29.4M

$38.9K VES 29.1M

1.08%

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

$20.35 VES 15.2K

$10.03 VES 7,489

102.89%

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

$13.34 VES 9,963

$12.90 VES 9,639

3.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.13 VES 30.0K

$40.52 VES 30.3K

-0.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 VES 50.7K

$53.3 VES 39.8K

27.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.37 VES 11.5K

Cinema Ticket

$5.95 VES 4,445

$3.43 VES 2,563

73.47%

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

$132 VES 98.8K

$134 VES 100.4K

-1.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,466 VES 4.1M

$5,567 VES 4.2M

-1.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 VES 47.5K

$24.57 VES 18.4K

158.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.72 VES 29.7K

$29.66 VES 22.2K

33.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 VES 76.9K

$78.7 VES 58.8K

30.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 VES 85.8K

$102 VES 76.1K

12.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 VES 333.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 VES 281.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 VES 733.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$839 VES 626.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,458 VES 1.1M

$445 VES 332.0K

227.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$678 VES 506.4K

$204 VES 152.3K

232.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$303 VES 226.2K

$205 VES 153.1K

47.72%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Maracay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 48% 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 $56.0 in Caracas versus $56.0 in Maracay. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Caracas vs $248 in Maracay – so Maracay 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 Maracay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 77%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,746 per month in Caracas and $987 in Maracay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,164 in Caracas and $658 in Maracay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $132 per month in Caracas and $134 in Maracay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maracay, where all-in costs run around $658, than in Caracas at $1,164. In Maracay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maracay – 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 Maracay. 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.