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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $728 per month in Merida vs $1,187 in Caracas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,239 per month in Merida vs $2,010 in Caracas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,750 per month in Merida vs $2,833 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 45% lower, Caracas 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.91 VES 7,285

$12.20 VES 8,967

-18.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.60 VES 32.8K

$54.2 VES 39.8K

-17.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 VES 7,217

$10.13 VES 7,445

-3.06%

Cappuccino

$1.57 VES 1,155

$2.52 VES 1,854

-37.70%

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

$1.15 VES 844

$1.32 VES 969

-12.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 VES 597

$0.95 VES 701

-14.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 VES 837

$1.53 VES 1,122

-25.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 VES 1,089

$2.92 VES 2,143

-49.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 VES 1,549

$1.86 VES 1,368

13.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 VES 1,777

$2.76 VES 2,028

-12.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 VES 1,215

$1.42 VES 1,043

16.20%

Eggs

$2.10 VES 1,547

$2.84 VES 2,091

-26.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.51 VES 4,054

$9.98 VES 7,339

-44.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 VES 4,737

$7.31 VES 5,375

-11.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.35 VES 5,405

$7.40 VES 5,439

-0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 VES 3,642

$5.33 VES 3,919

-7.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 VES 785

$1.84 VES 1,354

-41.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 VES 1,262

$2.28 VES 1,673

-24.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 VES 765

$1.99 VES 1,460

-47.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 VES 667

$2.70 VES 1,988

-66.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 VES 871

$2.06 VES 1,515

-42.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 VES 935

$1.34 VES 985

-5.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 VES 1,331

$1.97 VES 1,446

-8.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 VES 3,016

$3.96 VES 2,907

3.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.94 VES 8,044

$12.20 VES 8,966

-10.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 VES 861

$1.52 VES 1,114

-23.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 VES 1,007

$1.98 VES 1,453

-30.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 VES 197

$0.79 VES 578

-65.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 VES 22.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 VES 2,888

$4.87 VES 3,577

-19.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 VES 1,800

$2.71 VES 1,995

-9.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 VES 7,317

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 353

$0.51 VES 376

-5.88%

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

$45.4K VES 33.4M

$24.7K VES 18.2M

83.48%

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

$37.5K VES 27.6M

$40.0K VES 29.4M

-6.16%

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

$13.23 VES 9,726

$19.82 VES 14.6K

-33.25%

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

$10.11 VES 7,428

$13.26 VES 9,745

-23.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.46 VES 27.5K

$39.50 VES 29.0K

-5.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.06 VES 18.4K

$67.9 VES 49.9K

-63.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.86 VES 10.9K

$15.57 VES 11.4K

-4.56%

Cinema Ticket

$7.19 VES 5,285

$6.09 VES 4,475

18.06%

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

$57.7 VES 42.4K

$130 VES 95.4K

-55.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,392 VES 4.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.4 VES 65.7K

$63.5 VES 46.7K

40.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 VES 28.9K

$39.35 VES 28.9K

-0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 VES 63.0K

$104 VES 76.5K

-17.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.9 VES 47.0K

$113 VES 83.1K

-43.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 VES 84.3K

$453 VES 333.2K

-74.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.0 VES 65.4K

$367 VES 269.9K

-75.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 VES 153.3K

$983 VES 722.3K

-78.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 VES 140.5K

$840 VES 617.8K

-77.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,171 VES 861.1K

$1,480 VES 1.1M

-20.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 VES 898.7K

$666 VES 489.5K

83.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$290 VES 213.2K

$307 VES 225.4K

-5.41%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Caracas: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Merida versus $453 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 $45.00 in Merida versus $54.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $286 – 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 63%, 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 $1,092 per month in Merida and $1,780 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 $728 in Merida and $1,187 in Caracas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $57.7 per month in Merida and $130 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 $728, than in Caracas at $1,187. 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.