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: $653 in Maracay versus $734 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,148 in Maracay versus $1,244 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,643 in Maracay versus $1,754 in Maracaibo.

Living in Maracay costs roughly 11% less than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracay 51% lower, Maracaibo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.76 VES 6,554

$10.37 VES 5,777

13.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.0 VES 31.2K

$39.97 VES 22.3K

40.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.21 VES 4,018

$8.82 VES 4,915

-18.25%

Cappuccino

$1.35 VES 754

$2.65 VES 1,476

-49.06%

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

$1.22 VES 682

$1.20 VES 671

1.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 VES 539

$1.30 VES 724

-25.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 VES 821

$2.32 VES 1,290

-36.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 VES 1,084

$2.95 VES 1,643

-33.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 VES 1,000

$1.79 VES 996

0.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 VES 1,485

$1.94 VES 1,080

37.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 VES 573

$1.09 VES 607

-5.50%

Eggs

$2.19 VES 1,222

$3.19 VES 1,775

-31.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.67 VES 3,717

$5.95 VES 3,318

12.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 VES 3,140

$5.39 VES 3,003

4.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.33 VES 4,086

$6.08 VES 3,386

20.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.02 VES 2,241

$4.51 VES 2,513

-10.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 VES 1,045

$1.38 VES 769

35.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 VES 1,262

$1.71 VES 954

32.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 VES 1,149

$1.47 VES 820

40.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 VES 1,457

$1.16 VES 649

125.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,144

$1.62 VES 905

26.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 VES 755

$1.01 VES 564

34.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 VES 1,043

$1.60 VES 889

16.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 VES 1,361

$3.43 VES 1,914

-28.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.13 VES 5,648

$8.97 VES 4,997

12.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 VES 625

$1.06 VES 591

5.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 VES 993

$2.64 VES 1,473

-32.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 VES 160

$0.51 VES 287

-43.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.83 VES 23.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 VES 1,642

$4.11 VES 2,290

-28.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.74 VES 1,528

$1.95 VES 1,087

40.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.90 VES 5,517

$17.77 VES 9,900

-44.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 VES 273

$0.48 VES 269

2.08%

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

$24.6K VES 13.7M

$22.2K VES 12.4M

10.69%

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

$40.2K VES 22.4M

$31.0K VES 17.3M

29.58%

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

$10.09 VES 5,621

$16.22 VES 9,038

-37.79%

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

$12.84 VES 7,156

$9.02 VES 5,028

42.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.35 VES 21.9K

$25.85 VES 14.4K

52.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.5 VES 29.3K

$34.34 VES 19.1K

52.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 VES 13.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.57 VES 1,988

$5.04 VES 2,807

-29.17%

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

$130 VES 72.4K

$112 VES 62.5K

15.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,571 VES 3.1M

$13.9K VES 7.8M

-59.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.75 VES 13.8K

$41.75 VES 23.3K

-40.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.04 VES 16.7K

$42.17 VES 23.5K

-28.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 VES 44.1K

$57.8 VES 32.2K

36.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.8 VES 55.6K

$60.3 VES 33.6K

65.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 VES 100.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 VES 56.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 VES 183.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 VES 116.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$455 VES 253.8K

$759 VES 423.0K

-40.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$199 VES 110.7K

$502 VES 279.5K

-60.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 VES 99.6K

$196 VES 109.5K

-9.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

26.6

-19.81%

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

Last update for Maracay: May 30, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Maracaibo pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $56.0 in Maracay vs $40.00 in Maracaibo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $248 vs $221 per month, with Maracaibo cheaper across the board.

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. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Maracaibo earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $130 in Maracay versus $112 in Maracaibo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Maracay – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $40.00 in Maracaibo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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