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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $809 per month in Merida vs $1,337 in Caracas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,428 per month in Merida vs $2,250 in Caracas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,047 per month in Merida vs $3,163 in Caracas, rent included.

Merida is about 39% cheaper than Caracas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Merida and Caracas are more affordable than the global median – Merida 41% lower, Caracas 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.90 VES 9,999

$10.66 VES 8,955

11.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.4 VES 50.8K

$66.9 VES 56.2K

-9.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.86 VES 9,122

$10.97 VES 9,216

-1.00%

Cappuccino

$2.56 VES 2,154

$3.69 VES 3,100

-30.62%

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

$2.11 VES 1,773

$1.52 VES 1,276

38.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 VES 1,102

$1.29 VES 1,080

1.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 VES 1,650

$2.02 VES 1,700

-2.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 VES 2,558

$2.93 VES 2,459

3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 VES 1,665

$2.79 VES 2,342

-29.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 VES 2,744

$2.24 VES 1,879

45.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 VES 1,630

$1.82 VES 1,532

6.59%

Eggs

$2.47 VES 2,074

$4.64 VES 3,901

-46.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.56 VES 5,511

$10.06 VES 8,448

-34.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 VES 6,419

$9.05 VES 7,603

-15.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 VES 6,146

$11.53 VES 9,685

-36.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.07 VES 4,263

$7.27 VES 6,111

-30.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 VES 1,231

$2.02 VES 1,698

-27.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 VES 2,440

$2.10 VES 1,762

38.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 VES 1,899

$2.29 VES 1,922

-1.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 VES 1,675

$2.37 VES 1,987

-16.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 VES 1,135

$2.13 VES 1,790

-36.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 VES 1,262

$1.56 VES 1,315

-3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 VES 2,168

$2.32 VES 1,952

11.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 VES 3,203

$4.65 VES 3,903

-18.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.06 VES 9,292

$11.87 VES 9,975

-6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 VES 1,165

$1.41 VES 1,188

-1.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 VES 1,772

$2.15 VES 1,804

-1.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 VES 243

$0.48 VES 400

-39.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.55 VES 25.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 VES 3,455

$4.91 VES 4,123

-16.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 VES 1,291

$2.70 VES 2,267

-42.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.82 VES 4,891

$15.07 VES 12.7K

-61.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 VES 637

$0.82 VES 685

-7.32%

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

$44.4K VES 37.3M

$25.4K VES 21.3M

75.00%

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

$50.3K VES 42.2M

$38.2K VES 32.1M

31.47%

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

$12.69 VES 10.7K

$23.33 VES 19.6K

-45.61%

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

$10.46 VES 8,786

$11.97 VES 10.1K

-12.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.08 VES 25.3K

$37.05 VES 31.1K

-18.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.82 VES 25.0K

$66.8 VES 56.2K

-55.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.02 VES 12.6K

$17.27 VES 14.5K

-13.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 VES 4,185

$6.64 VES 5,576

-25.00%

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

$89.2 VES 75.0K

$161 VES 135.4K

-44.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 VES 2.0M

$6,194 VES 5.2M

-61.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.1 VES 60.5K

$74.4 VES 62.5K

-3.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.21 VES 34.6K

$47.06 VES 39.5K

-12.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.5 VES 82.7K

$123 VES 103.5K

-20.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.2 VES 82.5K

$140 VES 117.5K

-29.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$132 VES 111.2K

$618 VES 519.1K

-78.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$91.6 VES 77.0K

$433 VES 364.0K

-78.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 VES 188.6K

$1,116 VES 937.3K

-79.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 VES 157.7K

$888 VES 746.1K

-78.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,186 VES 996.6K

$1,480 VES 1.2M

-19.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,215 VES 1.0M

$668 VES 561.2K

81.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$285 VES 239.4K

$301 VES 253.1K

-5.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.64%

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

Last update for Merida: September 14, 2026

Last update for Caracas: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $132 in Merida 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 6% 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 $60.0 in Merida versus $67.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $335 – 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 65%, 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 $1,214 per month in Merida and $2,005 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 $809 in Merida and $1,337 in Caracas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $89.2 per month in Merida and $161 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 $809, than in Caracas at $1,337. 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.