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: $734 in Maracaibo versus $723 in Merida.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,244 in Maracaibo versus $1,220 in Merida.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,754 in Maracaibo versus $1,717 in Merida.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 1% more expensive than Merida, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 45% lower, Merida 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.37 VES 5,777

$10.17 VES 5,669

1.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.97 VES 22.3K

$45.85 VES 25.5K

-12.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.82 VES 4,915

$10.13 VES 5,646

-12.93%

Cappuccino

$2.65 VES 1,476

$1.56 VES 868

69.87%

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

$1.20 VES 671

$1.14 VES 633

5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 724

$0.83 VES 461

56.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 VES 1,290

$1.17 VES 653

98.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 VES 1,643

$1.49 VES 830

97.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 VES 996

$2.13 VES 1,188

-15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 VES 1,080

$2.52 VES 1,405

-23.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 VES 607

$1.60 VES 891

-31.87%

Eggs

$3.19 VES 1,775

$2.03 VES 1,132

57.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 VES 3,318

$5.59 VES 3,113

6.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 VES 3,003

$6.29 VES 3,506

-14.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.08 VES 3,386

$7.28 VES 4,058

-16.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 VES 2,513

$4.94 VES 2,753

-8.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 VES 769

$1.07 VES 595

28.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 VES 954

$1.66 VES 922

3.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 VES 820

$1.04 VES 579

41.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 VES 649

$0.98 VES 546

18.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 VES 905

$1.18 VES 659

37.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 VES 564

$1.24 VES 693

-18.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 VES 889

$1.81 VES 1,008

-11.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.43 VES 1,914

$4.11 VES 2,288

-16.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.97 VES 4,997

$10.96 VES 6,107

-18.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 VES 591

$1.18 VES 656

-10.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 VES 1,473

$1.38 VES 771

91.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 VES 287

$0.29 VES 162

75.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.83 VES 23.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 VES 2,290

$4.05 VES 2,259

1.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 VES 1,087

$2.47 VES 1,379

-21.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.77 VES 9,900

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 269

$0.51 VES 285

-5.88%

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

$22.2K VES 12.4M

$44.3K VES 24.7M

-49.84%

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

$31.0K VES 17.3M

$37.2K VES 20.8M

-16.75%

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

$16.22 VES 9,038

$13.38 VES 7,454

21.23%

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

$9.02 VES 5,028

$9.94 VES 5,537

-9.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.85 VES 14.4K

$36.89 VES 20.6K

-29.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.34 VES 19.1K

$25.15 VES 14.0K

36.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 VES 13.1K

$15.07 VES 8,399

55.47%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 VES 2,807

$6.96 VES 3,876

-27.59%

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

$112 VES 62.5K

$58.1 VES 32.4K

92.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K VES 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.75 VES 23.3K

$90.5 VES 50.4K

-53.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.17 VES 23.5K

$39.48 VES 22.0K

6.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.8 VES 32.2K

$85.0 VES 47.3K

-31.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 VES 33.6K

$65.0 VES 36.2K

-7.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 VES 100.5K

$118 VES 65.9K

52.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 VES 56.0K

$89.2 VES 49.7K

12.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 VES 183.7K

$208 VES 115.9K

58.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 VES 116.6K

$192 VES 106.9K

9.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$759 VES 423.0K

$1,155 VES 643.5K

-34.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 VES 279.5K

$1,189 VES 662.7K

-57.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$196 VES 109.5K

$286 VES 159.2K

-31.24%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Merida: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Maracaibo and $118 in Merida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Merida pays 45% 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 $46.00 in Merida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 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 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Merida earns 45% less. 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: $180 in Maracaibo versus $118 in Merida. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $112 in Maracaibo versus $58.1 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 $46.00 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 1% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.