Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Isla de Margarita

For one person, living is cheaper in Isla de Margarita: $654 a month against $787 in Maracaibo, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Maracaibo, Venezuela
Isla de Margarita, Venezuela
Maracaibo
🇻🇪 Venezuela
$787
/mo nomad
Isla de Margarita
🇻🇪 Venezuela
$654
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maracaibo and in Isla de Margarita

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Maracaibo and in Isla de Margarita actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $787 per month in Maracaibo vs $654 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

  • Maracaibo $787
  • Isla de Margarita $654

A couple spends around $1,306 per month in Maracaibo vs $1,221 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

  • Maracaibo $1,306
  • Isla de Margarita $1,221

A family of three spends $1,825 per month in Maracaibo vs $1,788 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

  • Maracaibo $1,825
  • Isla de Margarita $1,788

Maracaibo costs about 20% more than Isla de Margarita, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Maracaibo and Isla de Margarita are more affordable than the global median – Maracaibo 42% lower, Isla de Margarita 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracaibo
Isla de Margarita
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.59 VES 9,455
$9.83 VES 8,778
7.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.84 VES 35.6K
$81.0 VES 72.3K
-50.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.87 VES 7,921
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.74 VES 2,444
$2.55 VES 2,279
7.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 VES 1,056
$0.98 VES 875
20.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 VES 1,212
$1.47 VES 1,317
-7.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 VES 2,067
$0.98 VES 876
136.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 VES 2,647
$3.04 VES 2,715
-2.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracaibo
Isla de Margarita
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 VES 1,814
$1.96 VES 1,746
3.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 VES 1,927
$2.96 VES 2,640
-27.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 VES 931
$2.05 VES 1,834
-49.27%
Eggs
$3.72 VES 3,319
$2.45 VES 2,184
51.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.61 VES 5,896
$7.93 VES 7,078
-16.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 VES 5,782
$8.21 VES 7,326
-21.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.42 VES 6,626
$8.05 VES 7,186
-7.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.80 VES 4,281
$4.11 VES 3,669
16.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 VES 1,264
$1.51 VES 1,350
-5.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 VES 1,427
$1.99 VES 1,775
-19.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.40 VES 1,253
$2.55 VES 2,276
-45.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 VES 1,047
$1.46 VES 1,304
-19.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 VES 1,524
$1.78 VES 1,593
-3.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 VES 916
$1.02 VES 908
0.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 VES 1,742
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91 VES 2,599
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$8.91 VES 7,952
$4.98 VES 4,445
78.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 VES 972
$0.97 VES 868
12.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 VES 2,432
$1.54 VES 1,372
76.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracaibo
Isla de Margarita
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 VES 419
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.03 VES 37.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.90 VES 3,485
$2.92 VES 2,610
33.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 VES 1,745
$2.97 VES 2,648
-34.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.22 VES 15.4K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.68 VES 609
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.9K VES 13.3M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K VES 25.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracaibo
Isla de Margarita
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.2 VES 57.3K
$29.62 VES 26.4K
116.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.13 VES 6,367
$14.73 VES 13.1K
-51.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.11 VES 22.4K
$40.41 VES 36.1K
-37.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracaibo
Isla de Margarita
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.45 VES 29.9K
$49.69 VES 44.4K
-32.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.26 VES 25.2K
$15.05 VES 13.4K
87.77%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 VES 4,397
$4.99 VES 4,450
-1.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracaibo
Isla de Margarita
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$149 VES 133.2K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,312 VES 6.5M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracaibo
Isla de Margarita
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.95 VES 24.9K
$78.7 VES 70.3K
-64.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.06 VES 28.6K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.1 VES 53.7K
$101 VES 90.2K
-40.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.2 VES 51.9K
$99.8 VES 89.1K
-41.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracaibo
Isla de Margarita
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$160 VES 142.9K
$296 VES 264.0K
-45.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$92.9 VES 82.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$304 VES 271.8K
$508 VES 453.9K
-40.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$201 VES 179.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$747 VES 667.2K
$605 VES 540.3K
23.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$510 VES 454.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracaibo
Isla de Margarita
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$218 VES 195.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20
0
-

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

Last update for Maracaibo: October 31, 2026

Last update for Isla de Margarita: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Maracaibo
$244
Isla de Margarita
–
Eating Out
Maracaibo
$172
Isla de Margarita
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracaibo
$96
Isla de Margarita
–
Accommodation & Living
Maracaibo
$93
Isla de Margarita
–
Clothing & Footwear
Maracaibo
$80
Isla de Margarita
–
Getting Around
Maracaibo
$58
Isla de Margarita
–
Sport & Entertainment
Maracaibo
$43
Isla de Margarita
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $160 in Maracaibo versus $296 in Isla de Margarita. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40 in Maracaibo versus $81 in Isla de Margarita. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Maracaibo vs $236 in Isla de Margarita – so Isla de Margarita wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇻🇪 Maracaibo
🇻🇪 Isla de Margarita
🕒 Local time
12:50 12:50 PM
12:50 12:50 PM
Same time as Maracaibo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,000,000
90,387
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to VES – Venezuelan Bolívar Converter

Venezuelan Bolívar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 893 VES (1,000 VES = 1.12 USD). 1 EUR = 1,003 VES (10,000 VES = 9.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Maracaibo Isla de Margarita 850 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Maracaibo
  • Isla de Margarita

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Isla de Margarita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Isla de Margarita cheaper than Maracaibo?
Yes – Maracaibo is pricier by about 20%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,180 per month in Maracaibo and $982 in Isla de Margarita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maracaibo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $160 there versus $296 in Isla de Margarita.
How do food prices compare in Maracaibo and in Isla de Margarita?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Maracaibo, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Maracaibo or in Isla de Margarita?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40 in Maracaibo and $81 in Isla de Margarita. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Maracaibo or Isla de Margarita?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $787 in Maracaibo and $654 in Isla de Margarita, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Maracaibo or in Isla de Margarita?
It depends on your priorities. Isla de Margarita has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $654 in Isla de Margarita to $787 in Maracaibo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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