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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $734 per month in Maracaibo vs $1,203 in Caracas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,244 per month in Maracaibo vs $1,989 in Caracas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,754 per month in Maracaibo vs $2,775 in Caracas, rent included.

Maracaibo is about 39% cheaper than Caracas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maracaibo and Caracas are more affordable than the global median – Maracaibo 45% lower, Caracas 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.37 VES 5,777

$11.99 VES 6,679

-13.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.97 VES 22.3K

$55.1 VES 30.7K

-27.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.82 VES 4,915

$10.13 VES 5,646

-12.93%

Cappuccino

$2.65 VES 1,476

$2.61 VES 1,457

1.53%

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

$1.20 VES 671

$1.25 VES 699

-4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 724

$0.98 VES 545

32.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 VES 1,290

$1.53 VES 855

51.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 VES 1,643

$3.06 VES 1,708

-3.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 VES 996

$1.88 VES 1,050

-4.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 VES 1,080

$2.69 VES 1,500

-27.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 VES 607

$1.43 VES 796

-23.78%

Eggs

$3.19 VES 1,775

$2.84 VES 1,585

12.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 VES 3,318

$9.69 VES 5,398

-38.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 VES 3,003

$7.66 VES 4,268

-29.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.08 VES 3,386

$7.70 VES 4,290

-21.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 VES 2,513

$5.24 VES 2,919

-13.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 VES 769

$1.81 VES 1,009

-23.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 VES 954

$2.21 VES 1,229

-22.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 VES 820

$2.05 VES 1,140

-28.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 VES 649

$2.69 VES 1,497

-56.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 VES 905

$2.05 VES 1,142

-20.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 VES 564

$1.34 VES 747

-24.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 VES 889

$1.87 VES 1,044

-14.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.43 VES 1,914

$4.08 VES 2,274

-15.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.97 VES 4,997

$10.83 VES 6,033

-17.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 VES 591

$1.50 VES 837

-29.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 VES 1,473

$2.04 VES 1,137

29.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 VES 287

$0.76 VES 425

-32.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.83 VES 23.3K

$30.45 VES 17.0K

37.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 VES 2,290

$5.03 VES 2,801

-18.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 VES 1,087

$2.66 VES 1,485

-26.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.77 VES 9,900

$9.91 VES 5,520

79.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 269

$0.48 VES 268

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

$22.2K VES 12.4M

$25.2K VES 14.1M

-11.98%

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

$31.0K VES 17.3M

$39.5K VES 22.0M

-21.58%

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

$16.22 VES 9,038

$20.26 VES 11.3K

-19.94%

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

$9.02 VES 5,028

$13.05 VES 7,271

-30.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.85 VES 14.4K

$39.78 VES 22.2K

-35.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.34 VES 19.1K

$69.0 VES 38.4K

-50.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 VES 13.1K

$15.16 VES 8,446

54.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 VES 2,807

$5.92 VES 3,299

-14.86%

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

$112 VES 62.5K

$131 VES 73.0K

-14.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K VES 7.8M

$5,363 VES 3.0M

159.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.75 VES 23.3K

$64.0 VES 35.7K

-34.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.17 VES 23.5K

$39.66 VES 22.1K

6.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.8 VES 32.2K

$104 VES 57.8K

-44.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 VES 33.6K

$115 VES 64.1K

-47.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 VES 100.5K

$451 VES 251.1K

-59.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 VES 56.0K

$372 VES 207.3K

-72.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 VES 183.7K

$979 VES 545.3K

-66.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 VES 116.6K

$845 VES 470.8K

-75.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$759 VES 423.0K

$1,450 VES 807.9K

-47.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 VES 279.5K

$687 VES 382.7K

-26.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$196 VES 109.5K

$289 VES 161.0K

-31.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.6

21.33

24.71%

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

Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Caracas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $180 in Maracaibo versus $451 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 47% 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 $55.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $283 – 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 64%, 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 $1,101 per month in Maracaibo and $1,804 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 37% less in Maracaibo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $112 per month in Maracaibo and $131 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 $734, than in Caracas at $1,203. 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.