Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Maracay Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Maracay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $783 in Maracaibo versus $736 in Maracay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,303 in Maracaibo versus $1,252 in Maracay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,823 in Maracaibo versus $1,768 in Maracay.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 6% more expensive than in Maracay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 43% lower, Maracay 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.44 VES 8,665

$4.91 VES 4,081

112.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.65 VES 33.8K

$32.80 VES 27.2K

23.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.04 VES 7,510

$7.86 VES 6,531

15.01%

Cappuccino

$2.67 VES 2,219

$1.70 VES 1,411

57.06%

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

$1.14 VES 944

$1.23 VES 1,018

-7.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 VES 1,106

$1.16 VES 963

14.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 VES 1,858

$1.22 VES 1,011

83.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 VES 2,428

$3.08 VES 2,562

-5.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 VES 1,476

$2.65 VES 2,203

-32.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 VES 1,750

$2.20 VES 1,830

-4.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 VES 856

$0.99 VES 820

4.04%

Eggs

$3.73 VES 3,101

$2.74 VES 2,273

36.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.70 VES 5,560

$6.73 VES 5,589

-0.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 VES 5,370

$5.76 VES 4,782

12.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 VES 6,199

$8.48 VES 7,040

-11.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 VES 3,916

$4.25 VES 3,527

11.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 VES 1,135

$1.96 VES 1,624

-30.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 VES 1,290

$2.11 VES 1,755

-26.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 VES 1,174

$2.25 VES 1,866

-37.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 VES 1,021

$2.30 VES 1,908

-46.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 VES 1,449

$2.21 VES 1,837

-20.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 VES 810

$1.58 VES 1,315

-37.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 VES 1,684

$2.29 VES 1,899

-11.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 VES 2,464

$2.54 VES 2,109

16.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.97 VES 7,447

$10.04 VES 8,333

-10.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 VES 903

$1.16 VES 967

-6.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 VES 2,171

$1.78 VES 1,477

46.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 VES 360

$0.48 VES 402

-10.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.84 VES 34.7K

$20.37 VES 16.9K

105.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 VES 3,416

$2.98 VES 2,478

37.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 VES 1,692

$2.68 VES 2,224

-23.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.34 VES 14.4K

$10.11 VES 8,400

71.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 VES 546

$0.61 VES 507

8.20%

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

$14.9K VES 12.4M

$25.5K VES 21.2M

-41.55%

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

$28.5K VES 23.7M

$38.5K VES 32.0M

-26.02%

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

$63.0 VES 52.3K

$12.66 VES 10.5K

397.63%

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

$7.31 VES 6,072

$10.83 VES 8,993

-32.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.06 VES 20.8K

$36.45 VES 30.3K

-31.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.94 VES 28.2K

$29.99 VES 24.9K

13.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.21 VES 23.4K

$14.81 VES 12.3K

90.48%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 VES 4,211

$4.05 VES 3,361

25.19%

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

$153 VES 127.0K

$74.6 VES 61.9K

105.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,201 VES 6.0M

$6,048 VES 5.0M

19.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.67 VES 23.0K

$52.4 VES 43.5K

-47.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.17 VES 26.7K

$36.58 VES 30.4K

-12.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 VES 50.9K

$82.0 VES 68.1K

-25.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.5 VES 47.8K

$94.0 VES 78.0K

-38.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 VES 134.8K

$225 VES 186.5K

-27.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.1 VES 77.3K

$108 VES 90.0K

-14.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$298 VES 247.4K

$555 VES 461.2K

-46.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 VES 163.4K

$270 VES 224.3K

-27.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$743 VES 616.6K

$454 VES 376.7K

63.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$506 VES 420.6K

$200 VES 166.3K

152.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 VES 166.3K

$209 VES 173.4K

-4.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.5

-6.98%

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

Last update for Maracaibo: September 8, 2026

Last update for Maracay: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $162 in Maracaibo and $225 in Maracay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maracay pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $41.00 in Maracaibo vs $33.00 in Maracay. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $265, with Maracaibo 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 Maracay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maracay is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Maracay. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $162 in Maracaibo versus $225 in Maracay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $153 in Maracaibo versus $74.6 in Maracay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Maracaibo pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Maracay 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 Maracay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.