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: $734 in Maracaibo versus $696 in Ciudad Guayana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,244 in Maracaibo versus $1,125 in Ciudad Guayana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,754 in Maracaibo versus $1,555 in Ciudad Guayana.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 5% more expensive than Ciudad Guayana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 45% lower, Ciudad Guayana 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.37 VES 5,777

$9.44 VES 5,259

9.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.97 VES 22.3K

$39.70 VES 22.1K

0.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.82 VES 4,915

$14.48 VES 8,070

-39.09%

Cappuccino

$2.65 VES 1,476

$3.58 VES 1,997

-25.98%

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

$1.20 VES 671

$1.49 VES 830

-19.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 724

$1.01 VES 563

28.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 VES 1,290

$1.02 VES 570

127.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 VES 1,643

$1.94 VES 1,081

52.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 VES 996

$1.86 VES 1,035

-3.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 VES 1,080

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 VES 607

Eggs

$3.19 VES 1,775

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 VES 3,318

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 VES 3,003

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.08 VES 3,386

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 VES 2,513

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 VES 769

$1.03 VES 574

33.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 VES 954

$0.99 VES 551

72.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 VES 820

$2.97 VES 1,655

-50.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 VES 649

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 VES 905

$3.09 VES 1,721

-47.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 VES 564

$2.05 VES 1,141

-50.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 VES 889

$1.52 VES 847

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.43 VES 1,914

$4.01 VES 2,235

-14.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.97 VES 4,997

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 VES 591

$0.92 VES 513

15.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 VES 1,473

$2.03 VES 1,129

30.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 VES 287

$0.72 VES 401

-29.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.83 VES 23.3K

$30.07 VES 16.8K

39.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 VES 2,290

$4.52 VES 2,521

-9.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 VES 1,087

$3.95 VES 2,200

-50.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.77 VES 9,900

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 269

$0.49 VES 273

-2.04%

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

$22.2K VES 12.4M

$39.9K VES 22.2M

-44.32%

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

$31.0K VES 17.3M

$70.8K VES 39.5M

-56.21%

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

$16.22 VES 9,038

$27.34 VES 15.2K

-40.67%

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

$9.02 VES 5,028

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.85 VES 14.4K

$37.98 VES 21.2K

-31.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.34 VES 19.1K

$29.94 VES 16.7K

14.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 VES 13.1K

$14.76 VES 8,227

58.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 VES 2,807

$6.27 VES 3,492

-19.62%

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

$112 VES 62.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K VES 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.75 VES 23.3K

$30.49 VES 17.0K

36.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.17 VES 23.5K

$35.23 VES 19.6K

19.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.8 VES 32.2K

$177 VES 98.5K

-67.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 VES 33.6K

$98.6 VES 54.9K

-38.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 VES 100.5K

$150 VES 83.3K

20.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 VES 56.0K

$100 VES 55.9K

0.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 VES 183.7K

$295 VES 164.6K

11.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 VES 116.6K

$202 VES 112.6K

3.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$759 VES 423.0K

$261 VES 145.2K

191.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 VES 279.5K

$127 VES 71.0K

293.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$196 VES 109.5K

$111 VES 62.0K

76.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.6

6.40%

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

Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ciudad Guayana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Maracaibo and $150 in Ciudad Guayana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maracaibo pays 77% 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 $40.00 in Ciudad Guayana. Groceries flip the comparison at $221 vs $85.0, with Ciudad Guayana cheaper for home cooking.

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 5% in total monthly costs ($734 vs $696 including rent). Ciudad Guayana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Maracaibo pays 77% more on average, 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: $180 in Maracaibo versus $150 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 $40.00 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 39% 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 5% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.