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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,187 per month in Caracas vs $728 in Merida, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,010 per month in Caracas vs $1,239 in Merida, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Caracas vs $1,750 in Merida, rent included.

Caracas costs about 63% more than Merida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caracas and Merida are more affordable than the global median – Caracas 11% lower, Merida 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 VES 8,967

$9.91 VES 7,285

23.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.2 VES 39.8K

$44.60 VES 32.8K

21.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 7,445

$9.82 VES 7,217

3.16%

Cappuccino

$2.52 VES 1,854

$1.57 VES 1,155

60.51%

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

$1.32 VES 969

$1.15 VES 844

14.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 VES 701

$0.81 VES 597

17.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 1,122

$1.14 VES 837

34.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 VES 2,143

$1.48 VES 1,089

97.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 VES 1,368

$2.11 VES 1,549

-11.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 VES 2,028

$2.42 VES 1,777

14.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 VES 1,043

$1.65 VES 1,215

-13.94%

Eggs

$2.84 VES 2,091

$2.10 VES 1,547

35.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 VES 7,339

$5.51 VES 4,054

81.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 VES 5,375

$6.44 VES 4,737

13.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.40 VES 5,439

$7.35 VES 5,405

0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.33 VES 3,919

$4.95 VES 3,642

7.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 VES 1,354

$1.07 VES 785

71.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 VES 1,673

$1.72 VES 1,262

32.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 VES 1,460

$1.04 VES 765

91.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 VES 1,988

$0.91 VES 667

196.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 VES 1,515

$1.19 VES 871

73.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 VES 985

$1.27 VES 935

5.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 VES 1,446

$1.81 VES 1,331

8.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 VES 2,907

$4.10 VES 3,016

-3.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.20 VES 8,966

$10.94 VES 8,044

11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 VES 1,114

$1.17 VES 861

29.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 VES 1,453

$1.37 VES 1,007

44.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 VES 578

$0.27 VES 197

192.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 VES 22.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 VES 3,577

$3.93 VES 2,888

23.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 VES 1,995

$2.45 VES 1,800

10.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 VES 7,317

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 376

$0.48 VES 353

6.25%

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

$24.7K VES 18.2M

$45.4K VES 33.4M

-45.50%

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

$40.0K VES 29.4M

$37.5K VES 27.6M

6.56%

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

$19.82 VES 14.6K

$13.23 VES 9,726

49.81%

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

$13.26 VES 9,745

$10.11 VES 7,428

31.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.50 VES 29.0K

$37.46 VES 27.5K

5.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 VES 49.9K

$25.06 VES 18.4K

170.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.57 VES 11.4K

$14.86 VES 10.9K

4.78%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 VES 4,475

$7.19 VES 5,285

-15.30%

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

$130 VES 95.4K

$57.7 VES 42.4K

125.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,392 VES 4.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 VES 46.7K

$89.4 VES 65.7K

-28.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.35 VES 28.9K

$39.33 VES 28.9K

0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 VES 76.5K

$85.8 VES 63.0K

21.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 VES 83.1K

$63.9 VES 47.0K

76.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 VES 333.2K

$115 VES 84.3K

295.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 VES 269.9K

$89.0 VES 65.4K

312.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 VES 722.3K

$209 VES 153.3K

371.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$840 VES 617.8K

$191 VES 140.5K

339.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,480 VES 1.1M

$1,171 VES 861.1K

26.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$666 VES 489.5K

$1,223 VES 898.7K

-45.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 VES 225.4K

$290 VES 213.2K

5.72%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Merida: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Caracas versus $115 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 $54.0 in Caracas versus $45.00 in Merida. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 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 63%, 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 $1,780 per month in Caracas and $1,092 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 $1,187 in Caracas and $728 in Merida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $130 per month in Caracas and $57.7 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 $728, than in Caracas at $1,187. 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.