Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracay and Caracas Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracay and Caracas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $741 per month in Maracay vs $1,337 in Caracas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,242 per month in Maracay vs $2,250 in Caracas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,743 per month in Maracay vs $3,163 in Caracas, rent included.

Maracay is about 45% cheaper than Caracas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Maracay and Caracas are more affordable than the global median – Maracay 46% lower, Caracas 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracay
Caracas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.08 VES 4,290
$10.66 VES 9,010
-52.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.23 VES 27.2K
$66.9 VES 56.6K
-51.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.68 VES 6,494
$10.97 VES 9,273
-29.99%
Cappuccino
$1.70 VES 1,437
$3.69 VES 3,119
-53.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 VES 1,027
$1.52 VES 1,284
-19.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 VES 969
$1.29 VES 1,087
-10.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 VES 1,035
$2.02 VES 1,711
-39.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 VES 2,518
$2.93 VES 2,475
1.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracay
Caracas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.66 VES 2,250
$2.79 VES 2,357
-4.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 VES 1,872
$2.24 VES 1,890
-1.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 VES 829
$1.82 VES 1,542
-46.15%
Eggs
$2.66 VES 2,249
$4.64 VES 3,925
-42.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.71 VES 5,670
$10.06 VES 8,501
-33.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.85 VES 4,943
$9.05 VES 7,650
-35.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.41 VES 7,106
$11.53 VES 9,745
-27.06%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 VES 3,442
$7.27 VES 6,149
-44.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 VES 1,740
$2.02 VES 1,709
1.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 VES 1,799
$2.10 VES 1,773
1.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 VES 1,896
$2.29 VES 1,934
-2.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 VES 1,943
$2.37 VES 2,000
-2.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 VES 1,798
$2.13 VES 1,801
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 VES 1,368
$1.56 VES 1,323
3.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 VES 1,846
$2.32 VES 1,964
-6.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47 VES 2,089
$4.65 VES 3,927
-46.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 VES 8,472
$11.87 VES 10.0K
-15.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 VES 981
$1.41 VES 1,196
-17.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 VES 1,494
$2.15 VES 1,815
-17.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracay
Caracas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 VES 432
$0.48 VES 402
6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.38 VES 17.2K
$30.55 VES 25.8K
-33.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 VES 2,602
$4.91 VES 4,148
-37.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.67 VES 2,258
$2.70 VES 2,281
-1.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.18 VES 8,606
$15.07 VES 12.7K
-32.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 VES 560
$0.82 VES 690
-19.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K VES 21.6M
$25.4K VES 21.4M
0.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K VES 31.6M
$38.2K VES 32.3M
-2.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracay
Caracas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$12.71 VES 10.7K
$23.33 VES 19.7K
-45.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.81 VES 9,137
$11.97 VES 10.1K
-9.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.23 VES 31.5K
$37.05 VES 31.3K
0.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracay
Caracas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.88 VES 25.3K
$66.8 VES 56.5K
-55.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.28 VES 12.9K
$17.27 VES 14.6K
-11.52%
Cinema Ticket
$3.97 VES 3,355
$6.64 VES 5,611
-40.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracay
Caracas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$74.5 VES 63.0K
$161 VES 136.2K
-53.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,222 VES 5.3M
$6,194 VES 5.2M
0.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracay
Caracas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 VES 45.0K
$74.4 VES 62.9K
-28.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.45 VES 30.8K
$47.06 VES 39.8K
-22.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.3 VES 70.4K
$123 VES 104.2K
-32.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.8 VES 77.6K
$140 VES 118.2K
-34.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracay
Caracas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$224 VES 189.4K
$618 VES 522.3K
-63.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$109 VES 91.7K
$433 VES 366.3K
-74.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$560 VES 473.8K
$1,116 VES 943.1K
-49.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 VES 235.2K
$888 VES 750.7K
-68.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$443 VES 374.5K
$1,480 VES 1.3M
-70.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$198 VES 167.0K
$668 VES 564.7K
-70.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracay
Caracas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$205 VES 173.2K
$301 VES 254.6K
-31.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21.5
22
-2.27%

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

Last update for Maracay: September 13, 2026

Last update for Caracas: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $224 in Maracay versus $618 in Caracas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 47% higher in Caracas, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Maracay versus $67.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $264 vs $335 – making Maracay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Maracay vs Caracas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caracas cheaper than Maracay?
Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,112 per month in Maracay and $2,005 in Caracas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maracay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 50% less in Maracay. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $74.5 per month in Maracay and $161 in Caracas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Maracay or in Caracas?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maracay, where all-in costs run around $741, than in Caracas at $1,337. In Maracay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Maracay or Caracas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maracay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maracay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caracas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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