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: $745 in Maracaibo versus $642 in Maracay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,249 in Maracaibo versus $1,125 in Maracay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,753 in Maracaibo versus $1,608 in Maracay.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 16% more expensive than in Maracay, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 44% lower, Maracay 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.59 VES 7,784

$11.97 VES 8,796

-11.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.33 VES 29.6K

$54.7 VES 40.2K

-26.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 VES 6,458

$7.35 VES 5,401

19.59%

Cappuccino

$2.75 VES 2,025

$1.34 VES 985

105.22%

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

$1.15 VES 844

$1.23 VES 904

-6.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 956

$1.02 VES 751

27.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 VES 1,614

$1.54 VES 1,134

42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 VES 2,228

$2.02 VES 1,487

50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 VES 1,266

$1.82 VES 1,335

-5.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 VES 1,476

$2.71 VES 1,991

-25.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 VES 817

$1.07 VES 790

3.74%

Eggs

$3.04 VES 2,236

$2.23 VES 1,641

36.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 VES 4,335

$6.81 VES 5,004

-13.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 VES 3,874

$5.46 VES 4,014

-3.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.34 VES 4,657

$7.37 VES 5,416

-13.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 VES 3,166

$3.91 VES 2,876

10.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 VES 1,007

$1.86 VES 1,369

-26.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 VES 1,238

$2.17 VES 1,596

-22.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 VES 1,084

$2.05 VES 1,509

-27.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 VES 861

$2.64 VES 1,943

-55.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 VES 1,241

$2.14 VES 1,573

-21.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 VES 726

$1.29 VES 951

-23.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 VES 1,202

$1.90 VES 1,400

-14.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 VES 2,529

$2.54 VES 1,864

35.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 VES 6,814

$9.82 VES 7,217

-5.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 VES 783

$1.17 VES 861

-8.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 VES 1,946

$1.73 VES 1,270

53.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 VES 358

$0.31 VES 230

58.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.21 VES 31.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 VES 2,866

$2.94 VES 2,158

32.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 VES 1,443

$2.77 VES 2,038

-29.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.73 VES 13.0K

$10.14 VES 7,452

74.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 VES 380

$0.51 VES 375

1.96%

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

$22.8K VES 16.8M

$24.9K VES 18.3M

-8.46%

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

$31.2K VES 22.9M

$39.6K VES 29.1M

-21.10%

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

$16.36 VES 12.0K

$10.06 VES 7,398

62.62%

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

$8.61 VES 6,328

$13.14 VES 9,658

-34.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.41 VES 18.7K

$39.46 VES 29.0K

-35.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.13 VES 25.1K

$53.0 VES 39.0K

-35.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.62 VES 17.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 VES 3,650

$3.55 VES 2,606

40.00%

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

$111 VES 81.7K

$130 VES 95.9K

-14.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K VES 10.5M

$5,448 VES 4.0M

163.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.23 VES 30.3K

$24.53 VES 18.0K

68.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 VES 30.8K

$29.53 VES 21.7K

41.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.7 VES 43.1K

$79.5 VES 58.4K

-26.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.6 VES 43.8K

$102 VES 74.9K

-41.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 VES 132.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 VES 75.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 VES 240.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 VES 156.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$763 VES 561.2K

$444 VES 326.0K

72.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$497 VES 365.6K

$203 VES 149.0K

145.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 VES 145.8K

$179 VES 131.5K

10.84%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Maracay: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Maracaibo pays 11% 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 $55.0 in Maracay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $247 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 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 11% higher in Maracaibo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $111 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 $55.0 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 16% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.