Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Maracaibo: $784 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Maracaibo, Venezuela
Mexico City, Mexico
Maracaibo
🇻🇪 Venezuela
$784
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maracaibo and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Maracaibo and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $784 in Maracaibo versus $1,608 in Mexico City.

  • Maracaibo $784
  • Mexico City $1,608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,297 in Maracaibo versus $2,549 in Mexico City.

  • Maracaibo $1,297
  • Mexico City $2,549

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,811 in Maracaibo versus $3,490 in Mexico City.

  • Maracaibo $1,811
  • Mexico City $3,490

Living in Maracaibo costs roughly 51% less than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Maracaibo is 42% below, Mexico City is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracaibo
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.33 VES 9,151
$10.62 MX$198
-2.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.75 VES 35.2K
$48.35 MX$901
-17.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.77 VES 7,767
$10.35 MX$193
-15.27%
Cappuccino
$2.75 VES 2,439
$3.69 MX$68.8
-25.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 VES 1,019
$1.67 MX$31.07
-31.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 VES 1,158
$1.27 MX$23.59
3.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 VES 1,961
$3.19 MX$59.5
-30.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 VES 2,725
$5.31 MX$98.9
-42.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracaibo
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 VES 1,742
$1.72 MX$32.15
14.53%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 VES 1,872
$3.04 MX$56.7
-30.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 VES 952
$1.94 MX$36.19
-44.85%
Eggs
$3.78 VES 3,347
$2.89 MX$53.8
30.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.55 VES 5,803
$10.97 MX$205
-40.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.38 VES 5,655
$9.25 MX$172
-31.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.37 VES 6,527
$15.13 MX$282
-51.29%
Apples (1kg)
$4.82 VES 4,274
$3.05 MX$56.8
58.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 VES 1,201
$1.94 MX$36.19
-29.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.56 VES 1,384
$2.03 MX$37.75
-23.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 VES 1,204
$2.31 MX$43.15
-41.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 VES 1,094
$2.04 MX$37.94
-39.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 VES 1,542
$1.80 MX$33.55
-3.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 VES 902
$1.48 MX$27.58
-31.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 VES 1,755
$1.27 MX$23.63
55.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93 VES 2,595
$5.30 MX$98.9
-44.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.08 VES 8,047
$16.10 MX$300
-43.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 VES 966
$1.98 MX$36.97
-44.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 VES 2,322
$4.25 MX$79.3
-38.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracaibo
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 VES 416
$0.31 MX$5.69
51.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.53 VES 37.7K
$19.73 MX$368
115.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 VES 3,618
$1.84 MX$34.25
121.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 VES 1,727
$0.53 MX$9.94
267.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.66 VES 15.6K
$5.30 MX$98.7
233.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 VES 656
$1.51 MX$28.16
-50.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.2K VES 13.4M
$21.8K MX$405.5K
-30.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K VES 24.4M
$24.0K MX$447.1K
15.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracaibo
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.5 VES 55.3K
$63.0 MX$1,174
-0.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.45 VES 6,598
$27.39 MX$511
-72.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.27 VES 22.4K
$35.67 MX$665
-29.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracaibo
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.17 VES 29.4K
$58.9 MX$1,099
-43.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.71 VES 25.4K
$23.64 MX$441
21.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 VES 4,328
$6.40 MX$119
-23.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracaibo
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$148 VES 130.9K
$432 MX$8,045
-65.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,133 VES 6.3M
$11.4K MX$212.9K
-37.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracaibo
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.31 VES 24.2K
$68.2 MX$1,272
-59.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.34 VES 28.6K
$53.1 MX$990
-39.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.9 VES 54.9K
$108 MX$2,009
-42.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.7 VES 50.2K
$117 MX$2,186
-51.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracaibo
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$159 VES 141.1K
$1,113 MX$20.8K
-85.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$95.2 VES 84.3K
$710 MX$13.2K
-86.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$301 VES 266.6K
$2,588 MX$48.2K
-88.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$196 VES 173.9K
$1,406 MX$26.2K
-86.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$765 VES 677.7K
$3,631 MX$67.7K
-78.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$508 VES 449.6K
$2,135 MX$39.8K
-76.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracaibo
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$215 VES 190.6K
$946 MX$17.6K
-77.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20
11.35
76.21%

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

Last update for Maracaibo: October 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Maracaibo
$243
Mexico City
$320 31.5% $76
Eating Out
Maracaibo
$169
Mexico City
$199 17.5% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracaibo
$95
Mexico City
$126 32.4% $31
Accommodation & Living
Maracaibo
$95
Mexico City
$710 647% $615
Clothing & Footwear
Maracaibo
$80
Mexico City
$156 94.4% $76
Getting Around
Maracaibo
$58
Mexico City
$25 56.3% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Maracaibo
$43
Mexico City
$72 67.1% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Maracaibo and $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays about 4.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $40 in Maracaibo vs $48 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $320 per month, with Maracaibo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇻🇪 Maracaibo
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
04:21 4:21 AM
02:21 2:21 AM
2 h behind Maracaibo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,000,000
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to VES – Venezuelan Bolívar Converter

Venezuelan Bolívar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 886 VES (1,000 VES = 1.13 USD). 1 EUR = 989 VES (1,000 VES = 1.01 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.8 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Maracaibo Mexico City 3,100 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Maracaibo
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maracaibo cheaper than Mexico City?
Maracaibo is about 51% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Maracaibo or Mexico City?
On paper, salaries run 77% lower in Maracaibo. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Maracaibo and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $159 in Maracaibo versus $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $148 in Maracaibo versus $432 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Maracaibo and in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Maracaibo or in Mexico City?
At $784 in Maracaibo versus $1,608 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Maracaibo but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Maracaibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Maracaibo or in Mexico City?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Maracaibo wins on affordability, Mexico City on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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