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: $745 in Maracaibo versus $728 in Merida.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,249 in Maracaibo versus $1,239 in Merida.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,753 in Maracaibo versus $1,750 in Merida.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 2% more expensive than in Merida, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 44% lower, Merida 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.59 VES 7,784

$9.91 VES 7,285

6.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.33 VES 29.6K

$44.60 VES 32.8K

-9.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 VES 6,458

$9.82 VES 7,217

-10.49%

Cappuccino

$2.75 VES 2,025

$1.57 VES 1,155

75.16%

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

$1.15 VES 844

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 956

$0.81 VES 597

60.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 VES 1,614

$1.14 VES 837

92.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 VES 2,228

$1.48 VES 1,089

104.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 VES 1,266

$2.11 VES 1,549

-18.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 VES 1,476

$2.42 VES 1,777

-16.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 VES 817

$1.65 VES 1,215

-32.73%

Eggs

$3.04 VES 2,236

$2.10 VES 1,547

44.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 VES 4,335

$5.51 VES 4,054

7.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 VES 3,874

$6.44 VES 4,737

-18.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.34 VES 4,657

$7.35 VES 5,405

-13.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 VES 3,166

$4.95 VES 3,642

-12.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 VES 1,007

$1.07 VES 785

28.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 VES 1,238

$1.72 VES 1,262

-2.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 VES 1,084

$1.04 VES 765

42.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 VES 861

$0.91 VES 667

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 VES 1,241

$1.19 VES 871

42.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 VES 726

$1.27 VES 935

-22.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 VES 1,202

$1.81 VES 1,331

-9.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 VES 2,529

$4.10 VES 3,016

-16.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 VES 6,814

$10.94 VES 8,044

-15.27%

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

$1.37 VES 1,007

93.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 VES 358

$0.27 VES 197

81.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.21 VES 31.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 VES 2,866

$3.93 VES 2,888

-0.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 VES 1,443

$2.45 VES 1,800

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.73 VES 13.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 VES 380

$0.48 VES 353

8.33%

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

$22.8K VES 16.8M

$45.4K VES 33.4M

-49.74%

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

$31.2K VES 22.9M

$37.5K VES 27.6M

-16.75%

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

$16.36 VES 12.0K

$13.23 VES 9,726

23.66%

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

$8.61 VES 6,328

$10.11 VES 7,428

-14.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.41 VES 18.7K

$37.46 VES 27.5K

-32.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.13 VES 25.1K

$25.06 VES 18.4K

36.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.62 VES 17.4K

$14.86 VES 10.9K

58.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 VES 3,650

$7.19 VES 5,285

-30.88%

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

$111 VES 81.7K

$57.7 VES 42.4K

92.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K VES 10.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.23 VES 30.3K

$89.4 VES 65.7K

-53.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 VES 30.8K

$39.33 VES 28.9K

6.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.7 VES 43.1K

$85.8 VES 63.0K

-31.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.6 VES 43.8K

$63.9 VES 47.0K

-6.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 VES 132.7K

$115 VES 84.3K

57.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 VES 75.1K

$89.0 VES 65.4K

14.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 VES 240.4K

$209 VES 153.3K

56.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 VES 156.3K

$191 VES 140.5K

11.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$763 VES 561.2K

$1,171 VES 861.1K

-34.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$497 VES 365.6K

$1,223 VES 898.7K

-59.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 VES 145.8K

$290 VES 213.2K

-31.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.6

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

Last update for Maracaibo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Merida: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Maracaibo and $115 in Merida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Merida pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40.00 in Maracaibo vs $45.00 in Merida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $237 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

Merida is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 46% 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: $181 in Maracaibo versus $115 in Merida. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $111 in Maracaibo versus $57.7 in Merida. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Merida – a meal for two runs $45.00 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 Merida 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 Merida gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.