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: $642 in Maracay versus $745 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,125 in Maracay versus $1,249 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,608 in Maracay versus $1,753 in Maracaibo.

Living in Maracay costs roughly 14% less than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracay 52% lower, Maracaibo 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.97 VES 8,796

$10.59 VES 7,784

13.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 VES 40.2K

$40.33 VES 29.6K

35.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 VES 5,401

$8.79 VES 6,458

-16.38%

Cappuccino

$1.34 VES 985

$2.75 VES 2,025

-51.27%

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

$1.23 VES 904

$1.15 VES 844

6.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 VES 751

$1.30 VES 956

-21.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 VES 1,134

$2.20 VES 1,614

-30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 VES 1,487

$3.03 VES 2,228

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 VES 1,335

$1.72 VES 1,266

5.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 VES 1,991

$2.01 VES 1,476

34.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 VES 790

$1.11 VES 817

-3.60%

Eggs

$2.23 VES 1,641

$3.04 VES 2,236

-26.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.81 VES 5,004

$5.90 VES 4,335

15.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.46 VES 4,014

$5.27 VES 3,874

3.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 VES 5,416

$6.34 VES 4,657

16.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 VES 2,876

$4.31 VES 3,166

-9.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 VES 1,369

$1.37 VES 1,007

35.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 VES 1,596

$1.68 VES 1,238

29.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,509

$1.48 VES 1,084

38.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 VES 1,943

$1.17 VES 861

125.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 VES 1,573

$1.69 VES 1,241

26.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 VES 951

$0.99 VES 726

30.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 VES 1,400

$1.63 VES 1,202

16.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 VES 1,864

$3.44 VES 2,529

-26.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.82 VES 7,217

$9.27 VES 6,814

5.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 VES 861

$1.07 VES 783

9.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 VES 1,270

$2.65 VES 1,946

-34.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 VES 230

$0.49 VES 358

-36.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.21 VES 31.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 VES 2,158

$3.90 VES 2,866

-24.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 VES 2,038

$1.96 VES 1,443

41.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.14 VES 7,452

$17.73 VES 13.0K

-42.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 375

$0.52 VES 380

-1.92%

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

$24.9K VES 18.3M

$22.8K VES 16.8M

9.25%

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

$39.6K VES 29.1M

$31.2K VES 22.9M

26.75%

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

$10.06 VES 7,398

$16.36 VES 12.0K

-38.51%

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

$13.14 VES 9,658

$8.61 VES 6,328

52.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.46 VES 29.0K

$25.41 VES 18.7K

55.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.0 VES 39.0K

$34.13 VES 25.1K

55.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.62 VES 17.4K

Cinema Ticket

$3.55 VES 2,606

$4.97 VES 3,650

-28.57%

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

$130 VES 95.9K

$111 VES 81.7K

17.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,448 VES 4.0M

$14.3K VES 10.5M

-61.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.53 VES 18.0K

$41.23 VES 30.3K

-40.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.53 VES 21.7K

$41.87 VES 30.8K

-29.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 VES 58.4K

$58.7 VES 43.1K

35.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 VES 74.9K

$59.6 VES 43.8K

70.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 VES 132.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 VES 75.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 VES 240.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 VES 156.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$444 VES 326.0K

$763 VES 561.2K

-41.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$203 VES 149.0K

$497 VES 365.6K

-59.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 VES 131.5K

$198 VES 145.8K

-9.78%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Maracaibo pays 11% 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: $55.0 in Maracay vs $40.00 in Maracaibo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $220 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 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Maracaibo. 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 $111 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 $55.0 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 16% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.