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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,203 per month in Caracas vs $723 in Merida, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,989 per month in Caracas vs $1,220 in Merida, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,775 per month in Caracas vs $1,717 in Merida, rent included.

Caracas costs about 66% more than Merida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caracas and Merida are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 10% lower, Merida 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 VES 6,679

$10.17 VES 5,669

17.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 VES 30.7K

$45.85 VES 25.5K

20.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 5,646

Cappuccino

$2.61 VES 1,457

$1.56 VES 868

67.31%

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

$1.25 VES 699

$1.14 VES 633

9.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 545

$0.83 VES 461

18.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 855

$1.17 VES 653

30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 VES 1,708

$1.49 VES 830

105.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 VES 1,050

$2.13 VES 1,188

-11.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 VES 1,500

$2.52 VES 1,405

6.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 VES 796

$1.60 VES 891

-10.63%

Eggs

$2.84 VES 1,585

$2.03 VES 1,132

39.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 VES 5,398

$5.59 VES 3,113

73.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.66 VES 4,268

$6.29 VES 3,506

21.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.70 VES 4,290

$7.28 VES 4,058

5.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 VES 2,919

$4.94 VES 2,753

6.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 VES 1,009

$1.07 VES 595

69.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 VES 1,229

$1.66 VES 922

33.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,140

$1.04 VES 579

97.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 VES 1,497

$0.98 VES 546

174.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,142

$1.18 VES 659

73.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 VES 747

$1.24 VES 693

8.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 VES 1,044

$1.81 VES 1,008

3.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 VES 2,274

$4.11 VES 2,288

-0.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.83 VES 6,033

$10.96 VES 6,107

-1.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 VES 837

$1.18 VES 656

27.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 VES 1,137

$1.38 VES 771

47.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 VES 425

$0.29 VES 162

162.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.45 VES 17.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 VES 2,801

$4.05 VES 2,259

24.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 VES 1,485

$2.47 VES 1,379

7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.91 VES 5,520

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 268

$0.51 VES 285

-5.88%

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

$25.2K VES 14.1M

$44.3K VES 24.7M

-43.01%

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

$39.5K VES 22.0M

$37.2K VES 20.8M

6.16%

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

$20.26 VES 11.3K

$13.38 VES 7,454

51.42%

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

$13.05 VES 7,271

$9.94 VES 5,537

31.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.78 VES 22.2K

$36.89 VES 20.6K

7.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.0 VES 38.4K

$25.15 VES 14.0K

174.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 VES 8,446

$15.07 VES 8,399

0.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 VES 3,299

$6.96 VES 3,876

-14.94%

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

$131 VES 73.0K

$58.1 VES 32.4K

125.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,363 VES 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 VES 35.7K

$90.5 VES 50.4K

-29.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.66 VES 22.1K

$39.48 VES 22.0K

0.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 VES 57.8K

$85.0 VES 47.3K

22.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 VES 64.1K

$65.0 VES 36.2K

77.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 VES 251.1K

$118 VES 65.9K

280.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 VES 207.3K

$89.2 VES 49.7K

316.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$979 VES 545.3K

$208 VES 115.9K

370.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$845 VES 470.8K

$192 VES 106.9K

340.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,450 VES 807.9K

$1,155 VES 643.5K

25.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$687 VES 382.7K

$1,189 VES 662.7K

-42.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$289 VES 161.0K

$286 VES 159.2K

1.10%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Merida: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $451 in Caracas versus $118 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 1% 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 $46.00 in Merida. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $237 – 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 66%, 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 $1,084 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 $1,203 in Caracas and $723 in Merida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $131 per month in Caracas and $58.1 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 $723, than in Caracas at $1,203. 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.