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: $734 in Maracaibo versus $653 in Maracay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,244 in Maracaibo versus $1,148 in Maracay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,754 in Maracaibo versus $1,643 in Maracay.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 12% more expensive than Maracay, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 45% lower, Maracay 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.37 VES 5,795

$11.76 VES 6,574

-11.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.97 VES 22.3K

$56.0 VES 31.3K

-28.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.82 VES 4,931

$7.21 VES 4,031

22.33%

Cappuccino

$2.65 VES 1,480

$1.35 VES 756

96.30%

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

$1.20 VES 673

$1.22 VES 684

-1.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 727

$0.97 VES 540

34.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 VES 1,294

$1.47 VES 824

57.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 VES 1,648

$1.95 VES 1,087

51.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 VES 999

$1.80 VES 1,003

-0.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 VES 1,084

$2.67 VES 1,490

-27.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 VES 609

$1.03 VES 575

5.83%

Eggs

$3.19 VES 1,781

$2.19 VES 1,226

45.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 VES 3,328

$6.67 VES 3,728

-10.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 VES 3,012

$5.63 VES 3,150

-4.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.08 VES 3,397

$7.33 VES 4,099

-17.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 VES 2,521

$4.02 VES 2,248

12.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 VES 771

$1.87 VES 1,048

-26.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 VES 957

$2.26 VES 1,265

-24.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 VES 822

$2.06 VES 1,152

-28.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 VES 651

$2.62 VES 1,462

-55.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 VES 908

$2.05 VES 1,148

-20.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 VES 565

$1.36 VES 758

-25.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 VES 892

$1.87 VES 1,046

-14.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.43 VES 1,920

$2.44 VES 1,365

40.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.97 VES 5,012

$10.13 VES 5,665

-11.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 VES 593

$1.12 VES 627

-5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 VES 1,478

$1.78 VES 996

48.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 VES 288

$0.29 VES 160

75.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.83 VES 23.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 VES 2,297

$2.95 VES 1,647

39.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 VES 1,091

$2.74 VES 1,533

-28.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.77 VES 9,931

$9.90 VES 5,534

79.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 270

$0.49 VES 274

-2.04%

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

$22.2K VES 12.4M

$24.6K VES 13.7M

-9.66%

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

$31.0K VES 17.3M

$40.2K VES 22.5M

-22.82%

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

$16.22 VES 9,066

$10.09 VES 5,638

60.75%

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

$9.02 VES 5,044

$12.84 VES 7,178

-29.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.85 VES 14.5K

$39.35 VES 22.0K

-34.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.34 VES 19.2K

$52.5 VES 29.4K

-34.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 VES 13.1K

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 VES 2,816

$3.57 VES 1,995

41.18%

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

$112 VES 62.7K

$130 VES 72.6K

-13.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K VES 7.8M

$5,571 VES 3.1M

149.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.75 VES 23.3K

$24.75 VES 13.8K

68.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.17 VES 23.6K

$30.04 VES 16.8K

40.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.8 VES 32.3K

$79.1 VES 44.2K

-26.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 VES 33.7K

$99.8 VES 55.8K

-39.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 VES 100.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 VES 56.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 VES 184.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 VES 116.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$759 VES 424.3K

$455 VES 254.6K

66.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 VES 280.4K

$199 VES 111.1K

152.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$196 VES 109.8K

$179 VES 99.9K

9.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.6

21.33

24.71%

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

Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Maracay: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Maracaibo pays 10% 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 $56.0 in Maracay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $248 per month, with Maracaibo 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 Maracay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maracay is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Maracaibo pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $112 in Maracaibo versus $130 in Maracay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Maracay – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $40.00 in Maracaibo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 12% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.