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: $794 in Maracaibo versus $708 in Porlamar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,289 in Maracaibo versus $1,134 in Porlamar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,783 in Maracaibo versus $1,560 in Porlamar.

Living in Maracaibo is roughly 12% more expensive than in Porlamar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 42% lower, Porlamar 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.51 VES 8,153

$4.68 VES 3,629

124.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.03 VES 31.0K

$42.81 VES 33.2K

-6.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.27 VES 7,187

$9.25 VES 7,172

0.22%

Cappuccino

$2.63 VES 2,040

$1.87 VES 1,448

40.64%

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

$1.16 VES 898

$2.05 VES 1,592

-43.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 1,009

$1.25 VES 971

4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 VES 1,693

$1.03 VES 795

111.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 VES 2,280

$2.23 VES 1,727

31.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 VES 1,319

$1.68 VES 1,302

1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 VES 1,720

$1.53 VES 1,185

45.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 VES 843

$1.16 VES 901

-6.03%

Eggs

$3.65 VES 2,831

$1.99 VES 1,543

83.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.48 VES 5,027

$5.87 VES 4,549

10.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 VES 4,759

$6.53 VES 5,062

-5.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.44 VES 5,772

$7.40 VES 5,735

0.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.85 VES 3,759

$4.35 VES 3,373

11.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 VES 1,078

$1.77 VES 1,374

-21.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 VES 1,202

$1.46 VES 1,129

6.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 VES 1,085

$1.79 VES 1,390

-21.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 VES 957

$1.69 VES 1,311

-27.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 VES 1,365

$1.52 VES 1,177

15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 VES 794

$1.78 VES 1,382

-42.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 VES 1,564

$0.97 VES 755

108.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.06 VES 2,376

$3.05 VES 2,364

0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.23 VES 7,155

$6.43 VES 4,985

43.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 VES 817

$0.77 VES 601

36.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 VES 2,034

$1.62 VES 1,255

61.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 VES 340

$0.43 VES 335

2.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.65 VES 33.1K

$15.16 VES 11.8K

181.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.97 VES 3,076

$5.04 VES 3,911

-21.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 VES 1,513

$1.48 VES 1,147

31.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.61 VES 13.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 VES 510

$0.48 VES 371

37.50%

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

$14.8K VES 11.5M

$19.9K VES 15.4M

-25.83%

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

$28.0K VES 21.7M

$35.4K VES 27.4M

-20.88%

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

$63.9 VES 49.6K

$20.90 VES 16.2K

205.93%

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

$7.35 VES 5,700

$7.63 VES 5,916

-3.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.86 VES 19.3K

$31.25 VES 24.2K

-20.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.90 VES 26.3K

$39.37 VES 30.5K

-13.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.06 VES 21.8K

$12.28 VES 9,522

128.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 VES 3,761

$3.40 VES 2,637

42.65%

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

$147 VES 114.3K

$29.75 VES 23.1K

395.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,227 VES 5.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.10 VES 21.0K

$30.46 VES 23.6K

-11.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.62 VES 25.3K

$44.60 VES 34.6K

-26.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.6 VES 47.0K

$59.0 VES 45.7K

2.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.4 VES 44.5K

$75.7 VES 58.7K

-24.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 VES 123.2K

$199 VES 154.7K

-20.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.2 VES 73.8K

$150 VES 116.3K

-36.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$299 VES 232.2K

$332 VES 257.6K

-9.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 VES 150.9K

$203 VES 157.5K

-4.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$759 VES 588.3K

$403 VES 312.8K

88.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$509 VES 394.9K

$152 VES 117.7K

235.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 VES 154.6K

$212 VES 164.4K

-5.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Maracaibo: August 16, 2026

Last update for Porlamar: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Maracaibo and $199 in Porlamar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Porlamar pays 6% 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 $43.00 in Porlamar. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 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, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 6% 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: $159 in Maracaibo versus $199 in Porlamar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $147 in Maracaibo versus $29.75 in Porlamar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Maracaibo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 12% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.