Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Merida Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Merida

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in Maracaibo versus $809 in Merida.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Maracaibo versus $1,428 in Merida.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,845 in Maracaibo versus $2,047 in Merida.

Living in Maracaibo costs roughly 2% less than in Merida, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 42% lower, Merida 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.32 VES 8,714

$11.90 VES 10.0K

-13.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.26 VES 34.0K

$60.4 VES 51.0K

-33.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.25 VES 7,811

$10.86 VES 9,169

-14.83%

Cappuccino

$2.62 VES 2,214

$2.56 VES 2,165

2.34%

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

$1.20 VES 1,013

$2.11 VES 1,782

-43.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 1,095

$1.31 VES 1,108

-0.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 VES 1,876

$1.96 VES 1,658

13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 VES 2,573

$3.04 VES 2,571

0.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 VES 1,514

$1.98 VES 1,673

-9.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 VES 1,853

$3.27 VES 2,758

-33.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 VES 917

$1.94 VES 1,638

-43.81%

Eggs

$3.72 VES 3,145

$2.47 VES 2,085

50.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.44 VES 5,442

$6.56 VES 5,539

-1.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 VES 5,231

$7.64 VES 6,452

-18.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.28 VES 6,143

$7.32 VES 6,178

-0.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 VES 3,918

$5.07 VES 4,285

-8.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 VES 1,183

$1.47 VES 1,237

-4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 VES 1,371

$2.90 VES 2,452

-44.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 VES 1,226

$2.26 VES 1,909

-35.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 VES 1,024

$1.99 VES 1,683

-39.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 VES 1,499

$1.35 VES 1,141

31.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 VES 822

$1.50 VES 1,269

-35.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 VES 1,680

$2.58 VES 2,179

-22.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 VES 2,515

$3.81 VES 3,220

-21.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.90 VES 7,518

$11.06 VES 9,339

-19.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 VES 914

$1.39 VES 1,171

-22.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 VES 2,222

$2.11 VES 1,781

24.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 VES 370

$0.29 VES 245

51.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.07 VES 36.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 VES 3,316

$4.11 VES 3,472

-4.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 VES 1,664

$1.54 VES 1,297

27.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.64 VES 14.9K

$5.82 VES 4,916

203.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 VES 556

$0.76 VES 640

-13.16%

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

$15.2K VES 12.8M

$44.4K VES 37.5M

-65.74%

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

$28.3K VES 23.9M

$50.3K VES 42.5M

-43.75%

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

$62.3 VES 52.6K

$12.69 VES 10.7K

391.17%

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

$7.35 VES 6,206

$10.46 VES 8,831

-29.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.23 VES 21.3K

$30.08 VES 25.4K

-16.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.31 VES 29.0K

$29.82 VES 25.2K

15.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.98 VES 23.6K

$15.02 VES 12.7K

86.28%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 VES 4,157

$4.98 VES 4,207

-1.20%

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

$153 VES 129.0K

$89.2 VES 75.3K

71.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,190 VES 6.1M

$2,377 VES 2.0M

202.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.26 VES 23.0K

$72.1 VES 60.8K

-62.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.75 VES 27.7K

$41.21 VES 34.8K

-20.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.8 VES 50.5K

$98.5 VES 83.1K

-39.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 VES 47.8K

$98.2 VES 82.9K

-42.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 VES 135.0K

$132 VES 111.8K

20.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$91.9 VES 77.6K

$91.6 VES 77.4K

0.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$295 VES 249.2K

$224 VES 189.6K

31.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 VES 167.3K

$188 VES 158.5K

5.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$754 VES 637.1K

$1,186 VES 1.0M

-36.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$507 VES 427.9K

$1,215 VES 1.0M

-58.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$203 VES 171.5K

$285 VES 240.6K

-28.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-20.00%

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

Last update for Maracaibo: September 12, 2026

Last update for Merida: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $160 in Maracaibo and $132 in Merida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Merida pays 40% 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 $60.0 in Merida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $286 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 Merida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maracaibo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 40% lower in Merida. 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: $160 in Maracaibo versus $132 in Merida. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $153 in Maracaibo versus $89.2 in Merida. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Maracaibo – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $60.0 in Merida. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Maracaibo 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 Maracaibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Merida. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.