😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $745 in Maracaibo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,249 in Maracaibo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,753 in Maracaibo.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 207% more expensive than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Maracaibo is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Maracaibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$10.59VES 7,784
52.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$40.33VES 29.6K
57.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$8.79VES 6,458
17.41%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.75VES 2,025
2.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.15VES 844
99.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$1.30VES 956
21.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.20VES 1,614
54.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$3.03VES 2,228
33.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Maracaibo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.72VES 1,266
-36.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$2.01VES 1,476
-12.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.11VES 817
58.56%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.04VES 2,236
4.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$5.90VES 4,335
123.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$5.27VES 3,874
51.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$6.34VES 4,657
144.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$4.31VES 3,166
-45.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.37VES 1,007
24.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.68VES 1,238
19.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.48VES 1,084
64.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.17VES 861
50.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.69VES 1,241
20.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.99VES 726
93.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.63VES 1,202
-47.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.44VES 2,529
91.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$9.27VES 6,814
-39.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.07VES 783
24.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.65VES 1,946
12.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Maracaibo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.49VES 358
365.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$42.21VES 31.0K
8.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$3.90VES 2,866
8.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.96VES 1,443
-58.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$17.73VES 13.0K
4.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.52VES 380
300.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$22.8KVES 16.8M
51.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$31.2KVES 22.9M
25.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Maracaibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$16.36VES 12.0K
804.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$8.61VES 6,328
137.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$25.41VES 18.7K
55.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Maracaibo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$34.13VES 25.1K
40.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$23.62VES 17.4K
-21.25%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$4.97VES 3,650
85.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Maracaibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$111VES 81.7K
454.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$14.3KVES 10.5M
14.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Maracaibo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$41.23VES 30.3K
149.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$41.87VES 30.8K
-0.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$58.7VES 43.1K
61.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$59.6VES 43.8K
104.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Maracaibo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$181VES 132.7K
804.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$102VES 75.1K
1105.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$327VES 240.4K
847.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$213VES 156.3K
855.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$763VES 561.2K
925.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$497VES 365.6K
782.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Maracaibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$198VES 145.8K
710.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
26.6
-85.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Maracaibo: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $181 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 710% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $40.00 in Maracaibo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $220 per month, with Maracaibo cheaper across the board.
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
Lisbon vs Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Maracaibo?
Lisbon and Maracaibo differ by about 207% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $745 including rent). Maracaibo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Maracaibo?
Average pay runs 710% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Maracaibo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $181 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Maracaibo?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $111 in Maracaibo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $745 in Maracaibo versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maracaibo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Maracaibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Maracaibo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Maracaibo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Maracaibo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Maracaibo?
Expats usually find Maracaibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 207% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.