Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Merida Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Merida

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,337 per month in Caracas vs $809 in Merida, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,250 per month in Caracas vs $1,428 in Merida, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,163 per month in Caracas vs $2,047 in Merida, rent included.

Caracas costs about 65% more than Merida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caracas and Merida are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 2% lower, Merida 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.66 VES 8,955

$11.90 VES 9,999

-10.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.9 VES 56.2K

$60.4 VES 50.8K

10.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 VES 9,216

$10.86 VES 9,122

1.01%

Cappuccino

$3.69 VES 3,100

$2.56 VES 2,154

44.14%

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

$1.52 VES 1,276

$2.11 VES 1,773

-27.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 VES 1,080

$1.31 VES 1,102

-1.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 VES 1,700

$1.96 VES 1,650

3.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 VES 2,459

$3.04 VES 2,558

-3.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.79 VES 2,342

$1.98 VES 1,665

40.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 VES 1,879

$3.27 VES 2,744

-31.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 VES 1,532

$1.94 VES 1,630

-6.19%

Eggs

$4.64 VES 3,901

$2.47 VES 2,074

87.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 VES 8,448

$6.56 VES 5,511

53.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.05 VES 7,603

$7.64 VES 6,419

18.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.53 VES 9,685

$7.32 VES 6,146

57.51%

Apples (1kg)

$7.27 VES 6,111

$5.07 VES 4,263

43.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 VES 1,698

$1.47 VES 1,231

37.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 VES 1,762

$2.90 VES 2,440

-27.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 VES 1,922

$2.26 VES 1,899

1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 VES 1,987

$1.99 VES 1,675

19.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 VES 1,790

$1.35 VES 1,135

57.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 VES 1,315

$1.50 VES 1,262

4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 VES 1,952

$2.58 VES 2,168

-10.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 VES 3,903

$3.81 VES 3,203

22.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.87 VES 9,975

$11.06 VES 9,292

7.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 VES 1,188

$1.39 VES 1,165

1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 VES 1,804

$2.11 VES 1,772

1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 VES 400

$0.29 VES 243

65.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.55 VES 25.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.91 VES 4,123

$4.11 VES 3,455

19.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.70 VES 2,267

$1.54 VES 1,291

75.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.07 VES 12.7K

$5.82 VES 4,891

158.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 VES 685

$0.76 VES 637

7.89%

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

$25.4K VES 21.3M

$44.4K VES 37.3M

-42.86%

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

$38.2K VES 32.1M

$50.3K VES 42.2M

-23.94%

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

$23.33 VES 19.6K

$12.69 VES 10.7K

83.85%

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

$11.97 VES 10.1K

$10.46 VES 8,786

14.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.05 VES 31.1K

$30.08 VES 25.3K

23.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.8 VES 56.2K

$29.82 VES 25.0K

124.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.27 VES 14.5K

$15.02 VES 12.6K

14.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.64 VES 5,576

$4.98 VES 4,185

33.33%

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

$161 VES 135.4K

$89.2 VES 75.0K

80.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,194 VES 5.2M

$2,377 VES 2.0M

160.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.4 VES 62.5K

$72.1 VES 60.5K

3.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.06 VES 39.5K

$41.21 VES 34.6K

14.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 VES 103.5K

$98.5 VES 82.7K

25.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 VES 117.5K

$98.2 VES 82.5K

42.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 VES 519.1K

$132 VES 111.2K

366.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 VES 364.0K

$91.6 VES 77.0K

372.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,116 VES 937.3K

$224 VES 188.6K

396.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$888 VES 746.1K

$188 VES 157.7K

373.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,480 VES 1.2M

$1,186 VES 996.6K

24.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$668 VES 561.2K

$1,215 VES 1.0M

-45.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$301 VES 253.1K

$285 VES 239.4K

5.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-12.00%

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

Last update for Caracas: September 14, 2026

Last update for Merida: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $618 in Caracas versus $132 in Merida. 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 6% 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 $67.0 in Caracas versus $60.0 in Merida. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $286 – making Merida 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 Merida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 65%, 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 $2,005 per month in Caracas and $1,214 in Merida. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Merida, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,337 in Caracas and $809 in Merida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Caracas and $89.2 in Merida. 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 Merida, where all-in costs run around $809, than in Caracas at $1,337. In Merida it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Merida – 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 Merida. 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.