Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Caracas Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Caracas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $780 per month in Maracaibo vs $1,313 in Caracas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,279 per month in Maracaibo vs $2,237 in Caracas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,779 per month in Maracaibo vs $3,162 in Caracas, rent included.

Maracaibo is about 41% cheaper than Caracas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maracaibo and Caracas are more affordable than the global median – Maracaibo 43% lower, Caracas 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.68 VES 8,667

$10.86 VES 8,815

-1.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.21 VES 32.6K

$68.5 VES 55.6K

-41.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.07 VES 7,363

$11.05 VES 8,971

-17.92%

Cappuccino

$2.65 VES 2,153

$3.53 VES 2,862

-24.93%

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

$1.20 VES 972

$1.49 VES 1,206

-19.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 1,056

$1.31 VES 1,063

-0.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 VES 1,864

$2.03 VES 1,647

13.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 VES 2,448

$2.96 VES 2,401

2.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 VES 1,385

$2.75 VES 2,235

-37.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 VES 1,713

$2.24 VES 1,819

-5.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 VES 837

$1.87 VES 1,522

-44.92%

Eggs

$3.62 VES 2,939

$4.76 VES 3,865

-23.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.51 VES 5,286

$10.01 VES 8,126

-34.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 VES 5,210

$9.11 VES 7,391

-29.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.27 VES 5,905

$11.24 VES 9,126

-35.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 VES 3,780

$7.11 VES 5,771

-34.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 VES 1,130

$1.98 VES 1,609

-29.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 VES 1,295

$2.18 VES 1,766

-26.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 VES 1,156

$2.34 VES 1,900

-39.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 VES 956

$2.37 VES 1,925

-50.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 VES 1,365

$2.13 VES 1,729

-21.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 VES 827

$1.57 VES 1,277

-35.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 VES 1,672

$2.41 VES 1,959

-14.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 VES 2,413

$4.67 VES 3,789

-36.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.89 VES 7,214

$11.92 VES 9,672

-25.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 VES 847

$1.36 VES 1,105

-23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 VES 2,187

$2.05 VES 1,664

31.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 VES 375

$0.52 VES 425

-11.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.28 VES 34.3K

$30.55 VES 24.8K

38.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 VES 3,164

$5.11 VES 4,147

-23.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 VES 1,650

$2.83 VES 2,295

-28.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.43 VES 14.1K

$15.28 VES 12.4K

14.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 VES 542

$0.83 VES 673

-19.28%

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

$15.0K VES 12.2M

$25.1K VES 20.4M

-40.21%

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

$28.5K VES 23.2M

$38.5K VES 31.3M

-25.86%

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

$64.1 VES 52.0K

$23.11 VES 18.8K

177.37%

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

$7.37 VES 5,979

$11.85 VES 9,617

-37.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.72 VES 20.1K

$36.68 VES 29.8K

-32.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.53 VES 27.2K

$67.0 VES 54.4K

-49.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.26 VES 22.9K

$17.84 VES 14.5K

58.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 VES 4,037

$6.59 VES 5,352

-24.58%

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

$149 VES 120.8K

$161 VES 131.0K

-7.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,151 VES 5.8M

$6,113 VES 5.0M

16.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.55 VES 22.4K

$74.5 VES 60.5K

-63.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.66 VES 26.5K

$46.55 VES 37.8K

-29.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 VES 49.7K

$123 VES 99.6K

-50.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.7 VES 46.8K

$141 VES 114.2K

-58.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 VES 129.8K

$608 VES 493.9K

-73.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.5 VES 76.7K

$433 VES 351.7K

-78.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$296 VES 239.9K

$1,104 VES 895.9K

-73.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 VES 162.7K

$866 VES 703.0K

-76.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$752 VES 610.1K

$1,457 VES 1.2M

-48.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$491 VES 398.2K

$681 VES 552.9K

-27.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 VES 161.0K

$303 VES 246.1K

-34.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-9.09%

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

Last update for Maracaibo: August 31, 2026

Last update for Caracas: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $160 in Maracaibo 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 53% 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 $40.00 in Maracaibo versus $68.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $335 – making Maracaibo 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

Maracaibo vs Caracas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,170 per month in Maracaibo and $1,969 in Caracas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 38% less in Maracaibo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $149 per month in Maracaibo and $161 in Caracas. 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 Maracaibo, where all-in costs run around $780, than in Caracas at $1,313. In Maracaibo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Maracaibo. 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.