Cost of Living Comparison Between Merida and Maracaibo Cost of Living Comparison Between Merida and Maracaibo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $728 in Merida versus $745 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,239 in Merida versus $1,249 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,750 in Merida versus $1,753 in Maracaibo.

Living in Merida costs roughly 2% less than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Merida 45% lower, Maracaibo 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.91 VES 7,285

$10.59 VES 7,784

-6.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.60 VES 32.8K

$40.33 VES 29.6K

10.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 VES 7,217

$8.79 VES 6,458

11.72%

Cappuccino

$1.57 VES 1,155

$2.75 VES 2,025

-42.91%

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

$1.15 VES 844

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 VES 597

$1.30 VES 956

-37.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 VES 837

$2.20 VES 1,614

-48.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 VES 1,089

$3.03 VES 2,228

-51.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 VES 1,549

$1.72 VES 1,266

22.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 VES 1,777

$2.01 VES 1,476

20.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 VES 1,215

$1.11 VES 817

48.65%

Eggs

$2.10 VES 1,547

$3.04 VES 2,236

-30.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.51 VES 4,054

$5.90 VES 4,335

-6.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 VES 4,737

$5.27 VES 3,874

22.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.35 VES 5,405

$6.34 VES 4,657

15.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 VES 3,642

$4.31 VES 3,166

14.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 VES 785

$1.37 VES 1,007

-21.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 VES 1,262

$1.68 VES 1,238

2.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 VES 765

$1.48 VES 1,084

-29.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 VES 667

$1.17 VES 861

-22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 VES 871

$1.69 VES 1,241

-29.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 VES 935

$0.99 VES 726

28.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 VES 1,331

$1.63 VES 1,202

11.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 VES 3,016

$3.44 VES 2,529

19.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.94 VES 8,044

$9.27 VES 6,814

18.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 VES 861

$1.07 VES 783

9.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 VES 1,007

$2.65 VES 1,946

-48.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 VES 197

$0.49 VES 358

-44.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.21 VES 31.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 VES 2,888

$3.90 VES 2,866

0.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 VES 1,800

$1.96 VES 1,443

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.73 VES 13.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 353

$0.52 VES 380

-7.69%

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

$45.4K VES 33.4M

$22.8K VES 16.8M

98.95%

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

$37.5K VES 27.6M

$31.2K VES 22.9M

20.12%

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

$13.23 VES 9,726

$16.36 VES 12.0K

-19.13%

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

$10.11 VES 7,428

$8.61 VES 6,328

17.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.46 VES 27.5K

$25.41 VES 18.7K

47.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.06 VES 18.4K

$34.13 VES 25.1K

-26.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.86 VES 10.9K

$23.62 VES 17.4K

-37.09%

Cinema Ticket

$7.19 VES 5,285

$4.97 VES 3,650

44.67%

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

$57.7 VES 42.4K

$111 VES 81.7K

-48.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K VES 10.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.4 VES 65.7K

$41.23 VES 30.3K

116.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 VES 28.9K

$41.87 VES 30.8K

-6.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 VES 63.0K

$58.7 VES 43.1K

46.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.9 VES 47.0K

$59.6 VES 43.8K

7.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 VES 84.3K

$181 VES 132.7K

-36.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.0 VES 65.4K

$102 VES 75.1K

-12.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 VES 153.3K

$327 VES 240.4K

-36.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 VES 140.5K

$213 VES 156.3K

-10.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,171 VES 861.1K

$763 VES 561.2K

53.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 VES 898.7K

$497 VES 365.6K

145.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$290 VES 213.2K

$198 VES 145.8K

46.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.6

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

Last update for Merida: July 11, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $115 in Merida and $181 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Merida pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Merida vs $40.00 in Maracaibo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 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

Merida vs Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Merida is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 46% higher in Merida, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $115 in Merida versus $181 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $57.7 in Merida 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 Merida – a meal for two runs $45.00 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 Merida 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 Merida gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.