Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Barquisimeto Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Barquisimeto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $745 in Maracaibo versus $538 in Barquisimeto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,249 in Maracaibo versus $918 in Barquisimeto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,753 in Maracaibo versus $1,298 in Barquisimeto.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 38% more expensive than in Barquisimeto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 44% lower, Barquisimeto 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.59 VES 7,784

$7.32 VES 5,384

44.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.33 VES 29.6K

$30.12 VES 22.1K

33.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 VES 6,458

$9.96 VES 7,319

-11.75%

Cappuccino

$2.75 VES 2,025

$0.97 VES 715

183.51%

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

$1.15 VES 844

$1.20 VES 884

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 956

$0.73 VES 540

78.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 VES 1,614

$1.48 VES 1,085

48.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 VES 2,228

$1.54 VES 1,135

96.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 VES 1,266

$1.52 VES 1,117

13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 VES 1,476

$2.53 VES 1,859

-20.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 VES 817

$1.02 VES 747

8.82%

Eggs

$3.04 VES 2,236

$1.64 VES 1,207

85.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 VES 4,335

$4.06 VES 2,983

45.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 VES 3,874

$5.03 VES 3,698

4.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.34 VES 4,657

$6.95 VES 5,109

-8.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 VES 3,166

$4.89 VES 3,598

-11.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 VES 1,007

$0.98 VES 723

39.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 VES 1,238

$1.01 VES 744

66.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 VES 1,084

$1.03 VES 756

43.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 VES 861

$0.99 VES 727

18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 VES 1,241

$1.51 VES 1,112

11.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 VES 726

$0.52 VES 384

90.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 VES 1,202

$1.02 VES 748

59.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 VES 2,529

$2.93 VES 2,156

17.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 VES 6,814

$13.34 VES 9,807

-30.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 VES 783

$0.79 VES 583

35.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 VES 1,946

$0.98 VES 718

170.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 VES 358

$0.44 VES 323

11.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.21 VES 31.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 VES 2,866

$4.88 VES 3,584

-20.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 VES 1,443

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.73 VES 13.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 VES 380

$0.49 VES 359

6.12%

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

$22.8K VES 16.8M

$24.5K VES 18.0M

-6.90%

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

$31.2K VES 22.9M

$35.7K VES 26.3M

-12.66%

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

$16.36 VES 12.0K

$19.97 VES 14.7K

-18.08%

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

$8.61 VES 6,328

$10.07 VES 7,399

-14.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.41 VES 18.7K

$40.16 VES 29.5K

-36.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.13 VES 25.1K

$22.92 VES 16.9K

48.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.62 VES 17.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 VES 3,650

$4.48 VES 3,294

10.94%

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

$111 VES 81.7K

$50.2 VES 36.9K

121.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K VES 10.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.23 VES 30.3K

$27.49 VES 20.2K

49.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 VES 30.8K

$24.55 VES 18.0K

70.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.7 VES 43.1K

$50.8 VES 37.4K

15.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.6 VES 43.8K

$49.06 VES 36.1K

21.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 VES 132.7K

$202 VES 148.7K

-10.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 VES 75.1K

$49.50 VES 36.4K

106.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 VES 240.4K

$253 VES 185.9K

29.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 VES 156.3K

$151 VES 110.7K

41.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$763 VES 561.2K

$473 VES 348.0K

61.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$497 VES 365.6K

$245 VES 180.3K

102.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 VES 145.8K

$188 VES 138.4K

5.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.6

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

Last update for Maracaibo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Barquisimeto: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Maracaibo and $202 in Barquisimeto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maracaibo pays 5% 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: $40.00 in Maracaibo vs $30.00 in Barquisimeto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $202 per month, with Barquisimeto 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

Maracaibo vs Barquisimeto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maracaibo and Barquisimeto differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($745 vs $538 including rent). Barquisimeto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Maracaibo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $181 in Maracaibo versus $202 in Barquisimeto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Maracaibo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $745 per month in Maracaibo versus $538 in Barquisimeto – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Barquisimeto gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Barquisimeto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.