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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,203 per month in Caracas vs $663 in Maracay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,006 per month in Caracas vs $1,154 in Maracay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,809 per month in Caracas vs $1,645 in Maracay, rent included.

Caracas costs about 81% more than Maracay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.07 VES 7,075

$12.17 VES 7,132

-0.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.4 VES 32.5K

$53.9 VES 31.6K

2.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 VES 5,905

$7.28 VES 4,267

38.46%

Cappuccino

$2.53 VES 1,481

$1.30 VES 759

94.62%

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

$1.26 VES 737

$1.24 VES 725

1.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 VES 608

$0.96 VES 560

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 899

$1.54 VES 902

-0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 VES 1,766

$2.02 VES 1,185

49.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 VES 1,116

$1.86 VES 1,090

2.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 VES 1,610

$2.70 VES 1,583

1.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 VES 838

$1.08 VES 635

32.41%

Eggs

$2.76 VES 1,616

$2.31 VES 1,352

19.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.76 VES 5,719

$6.68 VES 3,914

46.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.49 VES 4,389

$5.43 VES 3,182

37.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.35 VES 4,309

$7.64 VES 4,477

-3.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 VES 3,026

$3.98 VES 2,332

29.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 VES 1,079

$1.88 VES 1,104

-2.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 VES 1,287

$2.18 VES 1,277

0.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 VES 1,212

$2.05 VES 1,203

0.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 VES 1,522

$2.60 VES 1,525

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 VES 1,251

$2.14 VES 1,251

-0.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 VES 800

$1.31 VES 769

4.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 VES 1,140

$1.95 VES 1,141

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 VES 2,409

$2.57 VES 1,507

59.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 VES 7,165

$10.03 VES 5,878

21.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 VES 858

$1.13 VES 662

29.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 VES 1,161

$1.70 VES 999

16.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 VES 431

$0.29 VES 169

151.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.29 VES 17.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 VES 2,965

$2.93 VES 1,715

72.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 VES 1,597

$2.64 VES 1,546

3.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.87 VES 5,781

$9.90 VES 5,800

-0.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 301

$0.52 VES 303

-1.92%

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

$25.5K VES 14.9M

$25.4K VES 14.9M

0.25%

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

$39.6K VES 23.2M

0.03%

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

$20.23 VES 11.9K

$10.13 VES 5,936

99.70%

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

$13.02 VES 7,627

$13.00 VES 7,616

0.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.43 VES 23.7K

$39.44 VES 23.1K

2.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.6 VES 40.2K

$53.9 VES 31.6K

27.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.32 VES 8,977

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 VES 3,491

$3.43 VES 2,011

73.76%

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

$131 VES 76.7K

$134 VES 78.7K

-2.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,364 VES 3.1M

$5,482 VES 3.2M

-2.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 VES 36.7K

$25.04 VES 14.7K

150.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.39 VES 23.1K

$29.69 VES 17.4K

32.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 VES 61.8K

$81.5 VES 47.7K

29.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 VES 68.5K

$101 VES 59.2K

15.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 VES 263.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 VES 219.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$998 VES 584.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$848 VES 497.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,493 VES 874.6K

$449 VES 263.3K

232.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$669 VES 392.0K

$200 VES 116.9K

235.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$308 VES 180.3K

$178 VES 104.5K

72.45%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Maracay: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 72% 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 $54.0 in Maracay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $249 – making Maracay 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 Maracay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 81%, 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 $1,804 per month in Caracas and $994 in Maracay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,203 in Caracas and $663 in Maracay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $131 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 $663, than in Caracas at $1,203. 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.