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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,187 per month in Caracas vs $638 in Maracay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,996 per month in Caracas vs $1,146 in Maracay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,805 per month in Caracas vs $1,653 in Maracay, rent included.

Caracas costs about 86% more than Maracay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Caracas and Maracay are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 11% lower, Maracay 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.09 VES 5,888

$12.18 VES 5,934

-0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.6 VES 27.1K

$54.6 VES 26.6K

1.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 VES 4,905

$7.15 VES 3,484

40.84%

Cappuccino

$2.54 VES 1,238

$1.36 VES 660

86.76%

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

$1.27 VES 621

$1.22 VES 593

4.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 VES 470

$0.96 VES 468

1.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 743

$1.48 VES 722

3.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 VES 1,427

$2.02 VES 985

45.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 VES 876

$1.82 VES 888

-1.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 VES 1,318

$2.74 VES 1,337

-1.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 VES 697

$1.03 VES 504

38.83%

Eggs

$2.87 VES 1,400

$2.29 VES 1,114

25.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 VES 4,844

$6.60 VES 3,214

50.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.69 VES 3,745

$5.49 VES 2,673

40.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.42 VES 3,616

$7.62 VES 3,710

-2.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 VES 2,564

$4.07 VES 1,982

29.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 VES 865

$1.86 VES 908

-4.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 VES 1,071

$2.20 VES 1,070

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 VES 1,006

$2.09 VES 1,017

-0.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 VES 1,291

$2.68 VES 1,306

-1.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 VES 1,004

$2.15 VES 1,046

-4.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 VES 637

$1.37 VES 667

-4.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 VES 922

$1.96 VES 953

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.07 VES 1,983

$2.53 VES 1,233

60.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 VES 4,831

$10.16 VES 4,947

-2.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 VES 731

$1.15 VES 562

30.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 VES 983

$1.77 VES 861

14.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 VES 353

$0.29 VES 141

148.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.48 VES 14.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 VES 2,485

$2.92 VES 1,424

74.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 VES 1,331

$2.67 VES 1,300

2.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.02 VES 4,882

$9.81 VES 4,777

2.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 235

$0.48 VES 232

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

$25.4K VES 12.4M

$25.2K VES 12.3M

0.94%

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

$39.1K VES 19.0M

$39.0K VES 19.0M

0.37%

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

$19.86 VES 9,676

$10.19 VES 4,964

94.90%

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

$13.32 VES 6,490

$12.97 VES 6,318

2.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.24 VES 19.1K

$39.94 VES 19.5K

-1.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.6 VES 33.4K

$52.9 VES 25.8K

29.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.51 VES 7,557

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 VES 2,969

$3.45 VES 1,679

76.52%

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

$133 VES 64.8K

$130 VES 63.2K

2.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,439 VES 2.6M

$5,469 VES 2.7M

-0.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 VES 30.7K

$25.40 VES 12.4K

148.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.68 VES 18.8K

$30.40 VES 14.8K

27.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 VES 50.4K

$81.2 VES 39.5K

27.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 VES 56.7K

$99.5 VES 48.5K

16.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 VES 220.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 VES 179.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 VES 483.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$847 VES 412.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,421 VES 692.3K

$447 VES 217.7K

217.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$687 VES 334.6K

$200 VES 97.4K

243.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$304 VES 148.2K

$175 VES 85.2K

73.98%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Maracay: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 74% 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 $55.0 in Maracay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $251 – 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 86%, 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 $1,780 per month in Caracas and $957 in Maracay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,187 in Caracas and $638 in Maracay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $133 per month in Caracas and $130 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 $638, than in Caracas at $1,187. 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.