Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracay and Maracaibo Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracay and Maracaibo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $736 in Maracay versus $783 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,252 in Maracay versus $1,303 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,768 in Maracay versus $1,823 in Maracaibo.

Living in Maracay costs roughly 6% less than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracay 47% lower, Maracaibo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 VES 4,081

$10.44 VES 8,665

-52.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.80 VES 27.2K

$40.65 VES 33.8K

-19.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 VES 6,531

$9.04 VES 7,510

-13.05%

Cappuccino

$1.70 VES 1,411

$2.67 VES 2,219

-36.33%

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

$1.23 VES 1,018

$1.14 VES 944

7.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 VES 963

$1.33 VES 1,106

-12.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 VES 1,011

$2.24 VES 1,858

-45.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 VES 2,562

$2.92 VES 2,428

5.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.65 VES 2,203

$1.78 VES 1,476

48.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 VES 1,830

$2.11 VES 1,750

4.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 VES 820

$1.03 VES 856

-3.88%

Eggs

$2.74 VES 2,273

$3.73 VES 3,101

-26.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 VES 5,589

$6.70 VES 5,560

0.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.76 VES 4,782

$6.47 VES 5,370

-10.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 VES 7,040

$7.47 VES 6,199

13.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.25 VES 3,527

$4.72 VES 3,916

-9.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 VES 1,624

$1.37 VES 1,135

43.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 VES 1,755

$1.55 VES 1,290

36.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 VES 1,866

$1.41 VES 1,174

59.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 VES 1,908

$1.23 VES 1,021

86.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 VES 1,837

$1.75 VES 1,449

26.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 VES 1,315

$0.98 VES 810

61.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 VES 1,899

$2.03 VES 1,684

12.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 VES 2,109

$2.97 VES 2,464

-14.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.04 VES 8,333

$8.97 VES 7,447

11.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 VES 967

$1.09 VES 903

6.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 VES 1,477

$2.61 VES 2,171

-31.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 VES 402

$0.43 VES 360

11.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.37 VES 16.9K

$41.84 VES 34.7K

-51.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 VES 2,478

$4.11 VES 3,416

-27.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 VES 2,224

$2.04 VES 1,692

31.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.11 VES 8,400

$17.34 VES 14.4K

-41.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 VES 507

$0.66 VES 546

-7.58%

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

$25.5K VES 21.2M

$14.9K VES 12.4M

71.08%

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

$38.5K VES 32.0M

$28.5K VES 23.7M

35.18%

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

$12.66 VES 10.5K

$63.0 VES 52.3K

-79.90%

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

$10.83 VES 8,993

$7.31 VES 6,072

48.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.45 VES 30.3K

$25.06 VES 20.8K

45.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.99 VES 24.9K

$33.94 VES 28.2K

-11.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.81 VES 12.3K

$28.21 VES 23.4K

-47.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 VES 3,361

$5.07 VES 4,211

-20.12%

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

$74.6 VES 61.9K

$153 VES 127.0K

-51.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,048 VES 5.0M

$7,201 VES 6.0M

-16.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 VES 43.5K

$27.67 VES 23.0K

89.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.58 VES 30.4K

$32.17 VES 26.7K

13.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 VES 68.1K

$61.3 VES 50.9K

33.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 VES 78.0K

$57.5 VES 47.8K

63.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 VES 186.5K

$162 VES 134.8K

38.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 VES 90.0K

$93.1 VES 77.3K

16.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$555 VES 461.2K

$298 VES 247.4K

86.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 VES 224.3K

$197 VES 163.4K

37.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$454 VES 376.7K

$743 VES 616.6K

-38.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$200 VES 166.3K

$506 VES 420.6K

-60.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$209 VES 173.4K

$200 VES 166.3K

4.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.5

7.50%

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

Last update for Maracay: September 7, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $225 in Maracay and $162 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maracay pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Maracay vs $41.00 in Maracaibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $242, with Maracaibo 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

Maracay vs Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maracay is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Maracay, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $225 in Maracay versus $162 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $74.6 in Maracay versus $153 in Maracaibo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Maracaibo pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Maracay 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 Maracay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.