Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Ciudad Guayana Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Ciudad Guayana

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $783 in Maracaibo versus $681 in Ciudad Guayana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,303 in Maracaibo versus $1,160 in Ciudad Guayana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,823 in Maracaibo versus $1,639 in Ciudad Guayana.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 15% more expensive than in Ciudad Guayana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 43% lower, Ciudad Guayana 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.44 VES 8,665

$9.47 VES 7,864

10.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.65 VES 33.8K

$40.47 VES 33.6K

0.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.04 VES 7,510

$14.38 VES 11.9K

-37.13%

Cappuccino

$2.67 VES 2,219

$3.43 VES 2,848

-22.16%

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

$1.14 VES 944

$1.47 VES 1,219

-22.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 VES 1,106

$1.02 VES 847

30.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 VES 1,858

$0.98 VES 812

128.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 VES 2,428

$2.04 VES 1,691

43.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 VES 1,476

$1.94 VES 1,607

-8.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 VES 1,750

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 VES 856

Eggs

$3.73 VES 3,101

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.70 VES 5,560

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 VES 5,370

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 VES 6,199

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 VES 3,916

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 VES 1,135

$0.99 VES 819

38.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 VES 1,290

$0.98 VES 817

58.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 VES 1,174

$3.06 VES 2,538

-53.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 VES 1,021

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 VES 1,449

$2.98 VES 2,475

-41.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 VES 810

$2.01 VES 1,672

-51.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 VES 1,684

$1.53 VES 1,269

32.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 VES 2,464

$3.91 VES 3,244

-24.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.97 VES 7,447

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 VES 903

$0.88 VES 731

23.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 VES 2,171

$2.06 VES 1,707

26.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 VES 360

$0.60 VES 502

-28.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.84 VES 34.7K

$30.49 VES 25.3K

37.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 VES 3,416

$4.52 VES 3,754

-9.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 VES 1,692

$4.07 VES 3,381

-49.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.34 VES 14.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 VES 546

$0.51 VES 424

29.41%

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

$14.9K VES 12.4M

$40.4K VES 33.5M

-63.09%

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

$28.5K VES 23.7M

$68.7K VES 57.1M

-58.55%

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

$63.0 VES 52.3K

$39.77 VES 33.0K

58.41%

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

$7.31 VES 6,072

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.06 VES 20.8K

$15.26 VES 12.7K

64.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.94 VES 28.2K

$44.11 VES 36.6K

-23.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.21 VES 23.4K

$17.63 VES 14.6K

60.01%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 VES 4,211

$7.87 VES 6,533

-35.58%

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

$153 VES 127.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,201 VES 6.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.67 VES 23.0K

$30.45 VES 25.3K

-9.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.17 VES 26.7K

$34.69 VES 28.8K

-7.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 VES 50.9K

$182 VES 151.0K

-66.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.5 VES 47.8K

$98.5 VES 81.8K

-41.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 VES 134.8K

$148 VES 122.8K

9.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.1 VES 77.3K

$98.7 VES 81.9K

-5.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$298 VES 247.4K

$405 VES 336.4K

-26.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 VES 163.4K

$245 VES 203.8K

-19.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$743 VES 616.6K

$257 VES 213.4K

188.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$506 VES 420.6K

$128 VES 106.4K

295.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 VES 166.3K

$110 VES 91.6K

81.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-20.00%

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

Last update for Maracaibo: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ciudad Guayana: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $162 in Maracaibo and $148 in Ciudad Guayana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maracaibo pays 81% 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: $41.00 in Maracaibo vs $40.00 in Ciudad Guayana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $85.0 per month, with Ciudad Guayana 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 Ciudad Guayana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maracaibo and Ciudad Guayana differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($783 vs $681 including rent). Ciudad Guayana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 81% 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: $162 in Maracaibo versus $148 in Ciudad Guayana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ciudad Guayana – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $41.00 in Maracaibo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Ciudad Guayana runs roughly 37% less than in Maracaibo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ciudad Guayana 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 Ciudad Guayana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.