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: $745 in Maracaibo versus $684 in Ciudad Guayana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,249 in Maracaibo versus $1,140 in Ciudad Guayana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,753 in Maracaibo versus $1,597 in Ciudad Guayana.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 9% more expensive than in Ciudad Guayana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 44% lower, Ciudad Guayana 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.59 VES 7,784

$9.59 VES 7,052

10.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.33 VES 29.6K

$39.43 VES 29.0K

2.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 VES 6,458

$14.54 VES 10.7K

-39.55%

Cappuccino

$2.75 VES 2,025

$3.52 VES 2,589

-21.88%

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

$1.15 VES 844

$1.47 VES 1,083

-21.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 956

$0.98 VES 721

32.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 VES 1,614

$1.01 VES 745

117.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 VES 2,228

$2.05 VES 1,508

47.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 VES 1,266

$1.88 VES 1,379

-8.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 VES 1,476

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 VES 817

Eggs

$3.04 VES 2,236

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 VES 4,335

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 VES 3,874

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.34 VES 4,657

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 VES 3,166

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 VES 1,007

$0.97 VES 715

41.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 VES 1,238

$1.02 VES 751

64.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 VES 1,084

$2.97 VES 2,186

-50.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 VES 861

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 VES 1,241

$2.98 VES 2,192

-43.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 VES 726

$2.05 VES 1,506

-51.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 VES 1,202

$1.52 VES 1,121

7.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 VES 2,529

$4.07 VES 2,989

-15.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 VES 6,814

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 VES 783

$0.88 VES 649

21.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 VES 1,946

$1.95 VES 1,434

35.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 VES 358

$0.78 VES 570

-37.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.21 VES 31.0K

$30.02 VES 22.1K

40.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 VES 2,866

$4.42 VES 3,249

-11.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 VES 1,443

$3.97 VES 2,915

-50.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.73 VES 13.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 VES 380

$0.48 VES 349

8.33%

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

$22.8K VES 16.8M

$39.7K VES 29.2M

-42.57%

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

$31.2K VES 22.9M

$71.3K VES 52.4M

-56.21%

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

$16.36 VES 12.0K

$27.02 VES 19.9K

-39.45%

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

$8.61 VES 6,328

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.41 VES 18.7K

$37.07 VES 27.2K

-31.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.13 VES 25.1K

$30.39 VES 22.3K

12.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.62 VES 17.4K

$14.73 VES 10.8K

60.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 VES 3,650

$6.12 VES 4,500

-18.79%

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

$111 VES 81.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K VES 10.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.23 VES 30.3K

$29.92 VES 22.0K

37.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 VES 30.8K

$35.67 VES 26.2K

17.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.7 VES 43.1K

$178 VES 130.7K

-67.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.6 VES 43.8K

$99.1 VES 72.9K

-39.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 VES 132.7K

$152 VES 111.6K

18.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 VES 75.1K

$98.2 VES 72.2K

4.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 VES 240.4K

$294 VES 216.2K

11.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 VES 156.3K

$200 VES 147.0K

6.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$763 VES 561.2K

$260 VES 190.9K

193.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$497 VES 365.6K

$130 VES 95.9K

281.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 VES 145.8K

$109 VES 79.8K

82.62%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ciudad Guayana: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Maracaibo and $152 in Ciudad Guayana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maracaibo pays 83% 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 $39.00 in Ciudad Guayana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $84.0 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 9% in total monthly costs ($745 vs $684 including rent). Ciudad Guayana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 83% 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: $181 in Maracaibo versus $152 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 $39.00 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 41% 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 9% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.