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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $745 per month in Maracaibo vs $1,187 in Caracas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,249 per month in Maracaibo vs $2,010 in Caracas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,753 per month in Maracaibo vs $2,833 in Caracas, rent included.

Maracaibo is about 37% cheaper than Caracas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maracaibo and Caracas are more affordable than the global median – Maracaibo 44% lower, Caracas 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.59 VES 7,784

$12.20 VES 8,967

-13.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.33 VES 29.6K

$54.2 VES 39.8K

-25.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 VES 6,458

$10.13 VES 7,445

-13.23%

Cappuccino

$2.75 VES 2,025

$2.52 VES 1,854

9.13%

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

$1.15 VES 844

$1.32 VES 969

-12.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 956

$0.95 VES 701

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 VES 1,614

$1.53 VES 1,122

43.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 VES 2,228

$2.92 VES 2,143

3.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 VES 1,266

$1.86 VES 1,368

-7.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 VES 1,476

$2.76 VES 2,028

-27.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 VES 817

$1.42 VES 1,043

-21.83%

Eggs

$3.04 VES 2,236

$2.84 VES 2,091

7.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 VES 4,335

$9.98 VES 7,339

-40.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 VES 3,874

$7.31 VES 5,375

-27.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.34 VES 4,657

$7.40 VES 5,439

-14.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 VES 3,166

$5.33 VES 3,919

-19.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 VES 1,007

$1.84 VES 1,354

-25.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 VES 1,238

$2.28 VES 1,673

-26.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 VES 1,084

$1.99 VES 1,460

-25.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 VES 861

$2.70 VES 1,988

-56.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 VES 1,241

$2.06 VES 1,515

-17.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 VES 726

$1.34 VES 985

-26.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 VES 1,202

$1.97 VES 1,446

-17.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 VES 2,529

$3.96 VES 2,907

-13.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 VES 6,814

$12.20 VES 8,966

-24.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 VES 783

$1.52 VES 1,114

-29.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 VES 1,946

$1.98 VES 1,453

33.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 VES 358

$0.79 VES 578

-37.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.21 VES 31.0K

$30.41 VES 22.4K

38.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 VES 2,866

$4.87 VES 3,577

-19.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 VES 1,443

$2.71 VES 1,995

-27.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.73 VES 13.0K

$9.95 VES 7,317

78.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 VES 380

$0.51 VES 376

1.96%

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

$22.8K VES 16.8M

$24.7K VES 18.2M

-7.78%

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

$31.2K VES 22.9M

$40.0K VES 29.4M

-21.88%

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

$16.36 VES 12.0K

$19.82 VES 14.6K

-17.46%

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

$8.61 VES 6,328

$13.26 VES 9,745

-35.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.41 VES 18.7K

$39.50 VES 29.0K

-35.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.13 VES 25.1K

$67.9 VES 49.9K

-49.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.62 VES 17.4K

$15.57 VES 11.4K

51.70%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 VES 3,650

$6.09 VES 4,475

-18.39%

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

$111 VES 81.7K

$130 VES 95.4K

-14.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K VES 10.5M

$5,392 VES 4.0M

165.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.23 VES 30.3K

$63.5 VES 46.7K

-35.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 VES 30.8K

$39.35 VES 28.9K

6.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.7 VES 43.1K

$104 VES 76.5K

-43.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.6 VES 43.8K

$113 VES 83.1K

-47.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 VES 132.7K

$453 VES 333.2K

-60.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 VES 75.1K

$367 VES 269.9K

-72.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 VES 240.4K

$983 VES 722.3K

-66.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 VES 156.3K

$840 VES 617.8K

-74.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$763 VES 561.2K

$1,480 VES 1.1M

-48.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$497 VES 365.6K

$666 VES 489.5K

-25.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 VES 145.8K

$307 VES 225.4K

-35.31%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Caracas: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $181 in Maracaibo versus $453 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 55% 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 $54.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $286 – 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 59%, 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 $1,118 per month in Maracaibo and $1,780 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 39% less in Maracaibo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Maracaibo and $130 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 $745, than in Caracas at $1,187. 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.