Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Porlamar Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Porlamar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $730 in Maracaibo versus $667 in Porlamar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,253 in Maracaibo versus $931 in Porlamar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,775 in Maracaibo versus $1,195 in Porlamar.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 10% more expensive than in Porlamar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 45% lower, Porlamar 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.52 VES 6,322

$4.44 VES 2,670

136.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.54 VES 24.4K

$49.33 VES 29.6K

-17.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.92 VES 5,361

$7.81 VES 4,692

14.21%

Cappuccino

$2.68 VES 1,610

$1.49 VES 894

79.87%

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

$1.14 VES 686

$1.71 VES 1,027

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 VES 786

$0.75 VES 453

74.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 VES 1,389

$1.38 VES 832

67.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 VES 1,776

$2.27 VES 1,365

30.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 VES 1,030

$1.69 VES 1,017

1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.00 VES 1,202

$1.47 VES 882

36.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 VES 651

$1.12 VES 674

-3.57%

Eggs

$3.17 VES 1,904

$2.02 VES 1,215

56.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 VES 3,657

$5.83 VES 3,502

4.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.45 VES 3,273

$6.68 VES 4,012

-18.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.19 VES 3,722

$7.52 VES 4,518

-17.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 VES 2,653

$4.31 VES 2,588

2.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 VES 792

$1.73 VES 1,042

-23.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 VES 996

$1.46 VES 877

13.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 VES 874

$1.72 VES 1,034

-15.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 VES 735

$1.68 VES 1,011

-27.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 VES 978

$1.59 VES 953

2.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 VES 585

$1.82 VES 1,092

-46.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 VES 959

$0.97 VES 585

64.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 VES 2,094

$2.95 VES 1,770

17.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.05 VES 5,435

$6.60 VES 3,965

37.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 VES 641

$0.73 VES 440

46.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 VES 1,634

$1.63 VES 979

66.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 VES 313

$0.49 VES 292

6.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 VES 25.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.09 VES 2,459

$4.97 VES 2,986

-17.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 VES 1,190

$2.93 VES 1,760

-32.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.62 VES 10.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 291

$0.52 VES 313

-7.69%

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

$22.6K VES 13.6M

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

$31.6K VES 19.0M

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

$15.98 VES 9,599

$29.44 VES 17.7K

-45.72%

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

$8.60 VES 5,168

$9.81 VES 5,892

-12.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.52 VES 15.3K

$34.92 VES 21.0K

-26.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.04 VES 20.5K

$50.6 VES 30.4K

-32.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.10 VES 14.5K

$9.98 VES 5,999

141.48%

Cinema Ticket

$5.14 VES 3,087

$2.94 VES 1,764

74.83%

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

$112 VES 67.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K VES 8.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.94 VES 25.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.59 VES 25.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 VES 35.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.6 VES 35.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$184 VES 110.5K

$198 VES 118.8K

-7.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$103 VES 61.6K

$203 VES 121.7K

-49.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 VES 192.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 VES 127.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$751 VES 451.5K

$398 VES 239.2K

88.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$506 VES 304.1K

$151 VES 90.5K

236.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$197 VES 118.5K

$218 VES 131.3K

-9.68%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Porlamar: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $184 in Maracaibo and $198 in Porlamar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Porlamar pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $41.00 in Maracaibo vs $49.00 in Porlamar. Groceries flip the comparison at $221 vs $211, with Porlamar cheaper for home cooking.

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 Porlamar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Porlamar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Porlamar. 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: $184 in Maracaibo versus $198 in Porlamar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Maracaibo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Porlamar – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $41.00 in Maracaibo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Porlamar 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 Porlamar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.