Cost of Living Comparison Between Merida and Caracas Cost of Living Comparison Between Merida and Caracas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $723 per month in Merida vs $1,203 in Caracas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,220 per month in Merida vs $1,989 in Caracas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,717 per month in Merida vs $2,775 in Caracas, rent included.

Merida is about 40% cheaper than Caracas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Merida and Caracas are more affordable than the global median – Merida 46% lower, Caracas 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 VES 5,669

$11.99 VES 6,679

-15.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.85 VES 25.5K

$55.1 VES 30.7K

-16.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 5,646

Cappuccino

$1.56 VES 868

$2.61 VES 1,457

-40.23%

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

$1.14 VES 633

$1.25 VES 699

-8.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 VES 461

$0.98 VES 545

-15.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 VES 653

$1.53 VES 855

-23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 VES 830

$3.06 VES 1,708

-51.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 VES 1,188

$1.88 VES 1,050

13.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 VES 1,405

$2.69 VES 1,500

-6.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 VES 891

$1.43 VES 796

11.89%

Eggs

$2.03 VES 1,132

$2.84 VES 1,585

-28.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.59 VES 3,113

$9.69 VES 5,398

-42.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 VES 3,506

$7.66 VES 4,268

-17.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.28 VES 4,058

$7.70 VES 4,290

-5.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 VES 2,753

$5.24 VES 2,919

-5.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 VES 595

$1.81 VES 1,009

-40.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 VES 922

$2.21 VES 1,229

-24.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 VES 579

$2.05 VES 1,140

-49.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 VES 546

$2.69 VES 1,497

-63.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 VES 659

$2.05 VES 1,142

-42.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 VES 693

$1.34 VES 747

-7.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 VES 1,008

$1.87 VES 1,044

-3.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 VES 2,288

$4.08 VES 2,274

0.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.96 VES 6,107

$10.83 VES 6,033

1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 VES 656

$1.50 VES 837

-21.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 VES 771

$2.04 VES 1,137

-32.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 VES 162

$0.76 VES 425

-61.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.45 VES 17.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 VES 2,259

$5.03 VES 2,801

-19.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.47 VES 1,379

$2.66 VES 1,485

-7.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.91 VES 5,520

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 285

$0.48 VES 268

6.25%

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

$44.3K VES 24.7M

$25.2K VES 14.1M

75.46%

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

$37.2K VES 20.8M

$39.5K VES 22.0M

-5.80%

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

$13.38 VES 7,454

$20.26 VES 11.3K

-33.96%

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

$9.94 VES 5,537

$13.05 VES 7,271

-23.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.89 VES 20.6K

$39.78 VES 22.2K

-7.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.15 VES 14.0K

$69.0 VES 38.4K

-63.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.07 VES 8,399

$15.16 VES 8,446

-0.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.96 VES 3,876

$5.92 VES 3,299

17.57%

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

$58.1 VES 32.4K

$131 VES 73.0K

-55.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,363 VES 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.5 VES 50.4K

$64.0 VES 35.7K

41.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 VES 22.0K

$39.66 VES 22.1K

-0.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 VES 47.3K

$104 VES 57.8K

-18.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.0 VES 36.2K

$115 VES 64.1K

-43.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 VES 65.9K

$451 VES 251.1K

-73.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.2 VES 49.7K

$372 VES 207.3K

-76.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 VES 115.9K

$979 VES 545.3K

-78.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 VES 106.9K

$845 VES 470.8K

-77.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,155 VES 643.5K

$1,450 VES 807.9K

-20.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 VES 662.7K

$687 VES 382.7K

73.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$286 VES 159.2K

$289 VES 161.0K

-1.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

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

Last update for Merida: May 30, 2026

Last update for Caracas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Merida versus $451 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 1% 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 $46.00 in Merida versus $55.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $283 – making Merida 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

Merida vs Caracas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 66%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,084 per month in Merida and $1,804 in Caracas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Merida, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $723 in Merida and $1,203 in Caracas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $58.1 per month in Merida and $131 in Caracas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Merida, where all-in costs run around $723, than in Caracas at $1,203. In Merida it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Merida – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Merida. 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.