😐A single person spends $1,310 per month in Caracas vs $710 in Porlamar, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,211 per month in Caracas vs $1,135 in Porlamar, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,111 per month in Caracas vs $1,560 in Porlamar, rent included.
😐Caracas costs about 84% more than Porlamar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Caracas and Porlamar are more affordable than the global median – Caracas5% lower, Porlamar48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caracas
Porlamar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.61VES 8,813
$4.61VES 3,828
130.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.2VES 55.8K
$41.89VES 34.8K
60.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.97VES 9,112
$9.18VES 7,622
19.50%
Cappuccino
$3.68VES 3,060
$1.85VES 1,536
98.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49VES 1,237
$2.04VES 1,690
-26.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34VES 1,109
$1.29VES 1,070
3.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99VES 1,651
$0.99VES 818
101.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99VES 2,483
$2.28VES 1,890
31.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caracas
Porlamar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.64VES 2,193
$1.68VES 1,394
57.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.21VES 1,834
$1.48VES 1,233
49.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84VES 1,527
$1.17VES 972
57.26%
Eggs
$4.77VES 3,964
$2.03VES 1,684
134.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.29VES 8,547
$5.84VES 4,847
76.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.08VES 7,544
$6.58VES 5,467
37.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62VES 9,650
$7.42VES 6,162
56.60%
Apples(1kg)
$7.33VES 6,084
$4.16VES 3,456
76.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04VES 1,691
$1.78VES 1,474
14.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12VES 1,759
$1.48VES 1,230
43.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35VES 1,950
$1.71VES 1,420
37.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.30VES 1,912
$1.67VES 1,390
37.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23VES 1,855
$1.56VES 1,299
42.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57VES 1,301
$1.85VES 1,533
-15.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.38VES 1,978
$0.98VES 812
142.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48VES 3,724
$3.07VES 2,550
45.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12VES 10.1K
$6.41VES 5,326
89.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35VES 1,122
$0.75VES 619
80.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06VES 1,708
$1.62VES 1,342
27.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Caracas
Porlamar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48VES 401
$0.43VES 361
11.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.72VES 24.7K
$15.04VES 12.5K
97.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.08VES 4,219
$5.08VES 4,218
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.71VES 2,250
$1.47VES 1,220
84.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.70VES 12.2K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83VES 687
$0.52VES 431
59.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KVES 20.4M
$20.1KVES 16.7M
22.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4KVES 31.9M
$35.0KVES 29.0M
9.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caracas
Porlamar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$23.76VES 19.7K
$21.03VES 17.5K
12.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.76VES 9,762
$7.66VES 6,359
53.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.37VES 31.0K
$31.81VES 26.4K
17.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caracas
Porlamar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.3VES 55.9K
$40.22VES 33.4K
67.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.80VES 14.8K
$12.47VES 10.4K
42.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61VES 5,493
$3.46VES 2,871
91.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caracas
Porlamar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163VES 135.2K
$29.61VES 24.6K
449.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,995VES 5.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caracas
Porlamar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.0VES 60.6K
$30.05VES 25.0K
142.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.04VES 39.1K
$44.67VES 37.1K
5.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125VES 104.0K
$58.9VES 48.9K
112.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142VES 118.0K
$75.5VES 62.7K
88.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caracas
Porlamar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$608VES 505.3K
$197VES 163.8K
208.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$418VES 347.3K
$152VES 126.3K
174.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103VES 916.1K
$334VES 277.1K
230.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$878VES 729.0K
$197VES 164.0K
344.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,464VES 1.2M
$404VES 335.7K
262.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$668VES 554.6K
$148VES 123.3K
349.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caracas
Porlamar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$299VES 248.7K
$215VES 178.8K
39.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22
20
10.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Caracas: September 6, 2026
Last update for Porlamar: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $608 in Caracas versus $197 in Porlamar. 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 39% 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 $42.00 in Porlamar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $210 – making Porlamar 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 Porlamar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Porlamar cheaper than Caracas?
Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 84%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,965 per month in Caracas and $1,066 in Porlamar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Porlamar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 98% less in Porlamar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $163 per month in Caracas and $29.61 in Porlamar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Caracas or in Porlamar?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Porlamar, where all-in costs run around $710, than in Caracas at $1,310. In Porlamar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Caracas or Porlamar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Porlamar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Porlamar. 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.