Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Monterey, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Caracas: $1,338 a month against $3,616 in Monterey, CA, rent and utilities included – about $27,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

65

Cost of Living Index in Caracas
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Caracas Living Index
173

Cost of Living Index in Monterey, CA
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Monterey, CA Living Index

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Caracas

🇻🇪 Venezuela

$1,338

/mo nomad

Monterey, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,616

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Caracas and in Monterey, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Caracas and in Monterey, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,338 per month in Caracas vs $3,616 in Monterey, CA, rent included.

Caracas $1,338
Monterey, CA $3,616

A couple spends around $2,235 per month in Caracas vs $5,349 in Monterey, CA, rent included.

Caracas $2,235
Monterey, CA $5,349

A family of three spends $3,133 per month in Caracas vs $7,082 in Monterey, CA, rent included.

Caracas $3,133
Monterey, CA $7,082

Caracas is about 63% cheaper than Monterey, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Caracas sits 1% below the global median, while Monterey, CA is 167% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.98 VES 9,642

$20.27 $20.27

-45.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.1 VES 58.9K

$78.6 $78.6

-14.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.16 VES 9,796

$12.10 $12.10

-7.77%

Cappuccino

$3.55 VES 3,114

$5.22 $5.22

-31.99%

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

$1.52 VES 1,332

$3.20 $3.20

-52.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 1,144

$1.62 $1.62

-19.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 VES 1,805

$5.45 $5.45

-62.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 VES 2,680

$6.06 $6.06

-49.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.64 VES 2,313

$1.65 $1.65

60.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 VES 2,032

$3.17 $3.17

-27.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 VES 1,624

$2.63 $2.63

-29.66%

Eggs

$4.64 VES 4,076

$4.57 $4.57

1.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 VES 9,083

$9.57 $9.57

8.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.20 VES 8,074

$13.38 $13.38

-31.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.64 VES 10.2K

$6.12 $6.12

90.20%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 VES 6,525

$3.66 $3.66

103.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 VES 1,794

$1.20 $1.20

70.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 VES 1,931

$3.22 $3.22

-31.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.38 VES 2,087

$4.00 $4.00

-40.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 VES 1,965

$2.75 $2.75

-18.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 VES 1,958

$1.96 $1.96

13.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 VES 1,424

$1.74 $1.74

-6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 VES 2,119

$1.25 $1.25

92.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.71 VES 4,132

$11.59 $11.59

-59.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.84 VES 10.4K

$17.31 $17.31

-31.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 VES 1,246

$2.73 $2.73

-47.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 VES 1,839

$1.85 $1.85

12.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 VES 448

$2.02 $2.02

-74.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.43 VES 26.7K

$52.9 $52.9

-42.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 VES 4,459

$1.58 $1.58

221.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 VES 2,483

$0.95 $0.95

197.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.80 VES 13.0K

$35.04 $35.04

-57.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 VES 772

$1.53 $1.53

-42.48%

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

$24.7K VES 21.7M

$28.9K $28.9K

-14.40%

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

$39.7K VES 34.8M

$25.8K $25.8K

53.77%

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

$21.94 VES 19.3K

$238 $238

-90.78%

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

$11.99 VES 10.5K

$75.1 $75.1

-84.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.39 VES 32.8K

$71.7 $71.7

-47.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.9 VES 57.8K

$84.1 $84.1

-21.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.83 VES 15.7K

$10.63 $10.63

67.73%

Cinema Ticket

$6.53 VES 5,735

$12.75 $12.75

-48.78%

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

$158 VES 138.4K

$555 $555

-71.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,066 VES 5.3M

$12.5K $12.5K

-51.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.6 VES 71.6K

$76.8 $76.8

6.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 VES 45.0K

$90.2 $90.2

-43.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 VES 119.2K

$129 $129

5.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 VES 115.2K

$135 $135

-2.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$604 VES 529.9K

$2,490 $2,490

-75.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 VES 373.1K

$2,205 $2,205

-80.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 VES 968.0K

$4,056 $4,056

-72.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$861 VES 755.7K

$4,027 $4,027

-78.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,464 VES 1.3M

$7,909 $7,909

-81.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$683 VES 599.8K

$5,838 $5,838

-88.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$303 VES 266.1K

$4,771 $4,771

-93.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

232.33%

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

Last update for Caracas: October 19, 2026

Last update for Monterey, CA: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Caracas

$425 31.8%

Monterey, CA

$2.2K 61% 419% $1.8K

Groceries & Markets

Caracas

$339 25.4%

Monterey, CA

$335 9.3% 1.1% $3.6

Eating Out

Caracas

$192 14.3%

Monterey, CA

$320 8.8% 66.9% $128

Clothing & Footwear

Caracas

$180 13.5%

Monterey, CA

$194 5.4% 7.6% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Caracas

$79 5.9%

Monterey, CA

$110 3% 38.8% $31

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Caracas

$71 5.3%

Monterey, CA

$385 10.6% 440% $314

Getting Around

Caracas

$52 3.9%

Monterey, CA

$67 1.9% 30.1% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $604 in Caracas versus $2,490 in Monterey, CA. 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 1474% higher in Monterey, CA, 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 $79.0 in Monterey, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $339 in Caracas vs $335 in Monterey, CA – so Monterey, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇻🇪 Caracas

🇺🇸 Monterey, CA

🕒 Local time

17:29 5:29 PM

14:29 2:29 PM

3 h behind Caracas

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,274,000 Capital

28,803

💱 Currency

Venezuelan Bolívar VES Bs.S

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 VES = 1.14 USD

1,000 VES = 1.01 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to VES – Venezuelan Bolívar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇻🇪 Venezuelan Bolívar (Bs.S)

Venezuelan Bolívar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 878 VES (1,000 VES = 1.14 USD). 1 EUR = 987 VES (1,000 VES = 1.01 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to VES in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Caracas Monterey, CA 6,210 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Caracas
Monterey, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Monterey, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Monterey, CA is pricier by about 170%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,006 per month in Caracas and $5,424 in Monterey, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 74% less in Caracas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $158 per month in Caracas and $555 in Monterey, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Caracas, where all-in costs run around $1,338, than in Monterey, CA at $3,616. In Caracas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monterey, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Caracas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Caracas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Monterey, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.