Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Downey, CA and Caracas

For one person, living is cheaper in Caracas: $1,338 a month against $3,035 in Downey, CA, rent and utilities included – about $20,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Downey, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,035
/mo nomad
Caracas
🇻🇪 Venezuela
$1,338
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $3,035 per month in Downey, CA vs $1,338 in Caracas, rent included.

  • Downey, CA $3,035
  • Caracas $1,338

A couple spends around $4,713 per month in Downey, CA vs $2,238 in Caracas, rent included.

  • Downey, CA $4,713
  • Caracas $2,238

A family of three spends $6,391 per month in Downey, CA vs $3,138 in Caracas, rent included.

  • Downey, CA $6,391
  • Caracas $3,138

Downey, CA costs about 127% more than Caracas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Downey, CA sits 125% above the global median, while Caracas is 1% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Downey, CA
Caracas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.83 $24.83
$10.82 VES 9,501
129.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.2 $80.2
$67.1 VES 58.9K
19.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.21 $15.21
$10.83 VES 9,507
40.44%
Cappuccino
$5.66 $5.66
$3.71 VES 3,258
52.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$1.57 VES 1,380
101.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.31 VES 1,148
78.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.38 $7.38
$1.97 VES 1,730
274.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.36 $9.36
$3.06 VES 2,690
205.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Downey, CA
Caracas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$2.69 VES 2,364
-58.36%
White Bread (500g)
$4.10 $4.10
$2.24 VES 1,967
83.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.70 $4.70
$1.90 VES 1,668
147.37%
Eggs
$4.67 $4.67
$4.76 VES 4,181
-1.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$10.24 VES 8,987
25.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.40 $13.40
$9.35 VES 8,207
43.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.25 $15.25
$11.49 VES 10.1K
32.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 $4.70
$7.28 VES 6,388
-35.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.06 VES 1,805
-19.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.13 $4.13
$2.16 VES 1,893
91.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$2.27 VES 1,996
141.41%
Potato (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$2.27 VES 1,990
63.44%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.16 VES 1,901
42.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.64 VES 1,438
23.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.36 VES 2,072
-5.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.68 $11.68
$4.68 VES 4,110
149.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.98 $14.98
$11.92 VES 10.5K
25.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.43 VES 1,252
40.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20 $4.20
$2.05 VES 1,799
104.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Downey, CA
Caracas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.52 VES 459
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$30.37 VES 26.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.34 $6.34
$4.92 VES 4,317
28.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.81 VES 2,464
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$14.91 VES 13.1K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 $1.47
$0.88 VES 769
67.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K $37.7K
$24.8K VES 21.8M
51.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$38.1K VES 33.5M
-32.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Downey, CA
Caracas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 $170
$21.49 VES 18.9K
692.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.6 $66.6
$11.73 VES 10.3K
467.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.3 $72.3
$38.50 VES 33.8K
87.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Downey, CA
Caracas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.92 $34.92
$65.8 VES 57.8K
-46.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.81 VES 15.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.11 $15.11
$6.35 VES 5,573
137.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Downey, CA
Caracas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,188 $1,188
$157 VES 138.0K
655.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,098 VES 5.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Downey, CA
Caracas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 $58.6
$81.0 VES 71.1K
-27.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.89 $45.89
$50.1 VES 44.0K
-8.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.0 $92.0
$133 VES 117.0K
-30.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$134 VES 117.7K
7.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Downey, CA
Caracas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 $1,946
$608 VES 534.1K
219.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,693 $1,693
$428 VES 375.9K
295.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,725 $3,725
$1,113 VES 977.4K
234.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,383 $3,383
$872 VES 765.6K
287.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,755 $5,755
$1,462 VES 1.3M
293.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,766 $5,766
$670 VES 587.9K
761.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Downey, CA
Caracas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,178 $4,178
$303 VES 265.6K
1281.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
22
-70.95%

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

Last update for Downey, CA: October 13, 2026

Last update for Caracas: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Downey, CA
$1.7K
Caracas
$428 74.7% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Downey, CA
$419
Caracas
$338 19.4% $81
Eating Out
Downey, CA
$390
Caracas
$191 51% $199
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Downey, CA
$309
Caracas
$72 76.8% $238
Clothing & Footwear
Downey, CA
$153
Caracas
$179 17% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Downey, CA
$65
Caracas
$79 20.5% $13
Getting Around
Downey, CA
$6.3 *
Caracas
$51 711% $45

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,946 in Downey, CA versus $608 in Caracas. 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 1281% higher in Downey, 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 $80.0 in Downey, CA versus $67.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 vs $338 – making Caracas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Downey, CA
🇻🇪 Caracas
🕒 Local time
11:42 11:42 AM
14:42 2:42 PM
3 h ahead of Downey, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
114,355
3,274,000 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

VES, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Venezuelan Bolívar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 878 VES (1,000 VES = 1.14 USD). 1 EUR = 987 VES (1,000 VES = 1.01 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Downey, CA Caracas 5,810 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Downey, CA
  • Caracas

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
Downey, CA vs Caracas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caracas cheaper than Downey, CA?
Yes – Downey, CA is pricier by about 127%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,553 per month in Downey, CA and $2,007 in Caracas. 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 Caracas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Downey, CA and in Caracas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,035 in Downey, CA and $1,338 in Caracas. That's a gap of about 127%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,188 per month in Downey, CA and $157 in Caracas. 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 Downey, CA or in Caracas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Caracas, where all-in costs run around $1,338, than in Downey, CA at $3,035. In Caracas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Downey, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Downey, CA or Caracas more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Downey, CA or Caracas?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Caracas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Downey, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Downey, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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