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: $723 in Merida versus $734 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,220 in Merida versus $1,244 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,717 in Merida versus $1,754 in Maracaibo.

Living in Merida costs roughly 1% less than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Merida 46% lower, Maracaibo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 VES 5,669

$10.37 VES 5,777

-1.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.85 VES 25.5K

$39.97 VES 22.3K

14.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 5,646

$8.82 VES 4,915

14.85%

Cappuccino

$1.56 VES 868

$2.65 VES 1,476

-41.13%

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

$1.14 VES 633

$1.20 VES 671

-5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 VES 461

$1.30 VES 724

-36.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 VES 653

$2.32 VES 1,290

-49.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 VES 830

$2.95 VES 1,643

-49.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 VES 1,188

$1.79 VES 996

18.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 VES 1,405

$1.94 VES 1,080

29.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 VES 891

$1.09 VES 607

46.79%

Eggs

$2.03 VES 1,132

$3.19 VES 1,775

-36.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.59 VES 3,113

$5.95 VES 3,318

-6.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 VES 3,506

$5.39 VES 3,003

16.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.28 VES 4,058

$6.08 VES 3,386

19.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 VES 2,753

$4.51 VES 2,513

9.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 VES 595

$1.38 VES 769

-22.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 VES 922

$1.71 VES 954

-2.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 VES 579

$1.47 VES 820

-29.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 VES 546

$1.16 VES 649

-15.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 VES 659

$1.62 VES 905

-27.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 VES 693

$1.01 VES 564

22.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 VES 1,008

$1.60 VES 889

13.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 VES 2,288

$3.43 VES 1,914

19.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.96 VES 6,107

$8.97 VES 4,997

22.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 VES 656

$1.06 VES 591

11.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 VES 771

$2.64 VES 1,473

-47.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 VES 162

$0.51 VES 287

-43.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.83 VES 23.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 VES 2,259

$4.11 VES 2,290

-1.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.47 VES 1,379

$1.95 VES 1,087

26.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.77 VES 9,900

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 285

$0.48 VES 269

6.25%

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

$44.3K VES 24.7M

$22.2K VES 12.4M

99.34%

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

$37.2K VES 20.8M

$31.0K VES 17.3M

20.12%

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

$13.38 VES 7,454

$16.22 VES 9,038

-17.51%

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

$9.94 VES 5,537

$9.02 VES 5,028

10.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.89 VES 20.6K

$25.85 VES 14.4K

42.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.15 VES 14.0K

$34.34 VES 19.1K

-26.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.07 VES 8,399

$23.43 VES 13.1K

-35.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.96 VES 3,876

$5.04 VES 2,807

38.10%

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

$58.1 VES 32.4K

$112 VES 62.5K

-48.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K VES 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.5 VES 50.4K

$41.75 VES 23.3K

116.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 VES 22.0K

$42.17 VES 23.5K

-6.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 VES 47.3K

$57.8 VES 32.2K

46.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.0 VES 36.2K

$60.3 VES 33.6K

7.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 VES 65.9K

$180 VES 100.5K

-34.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.2 VES 49.7K

$101 VES 56.0K

-11.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 VES 115.9K

$330 VES 183.7K

-36.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 VES 106.9K

$209 VES 116.6K

-8.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,155 VES 643.5K

$759 VES 423.0K

52.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 VES 662.7K

$502 VES 279.5K

137.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$286 VES 159.2K

$196 VES 109.5K

45.43%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Merida and $180 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Merida pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Merida vs $40.00 in Maracaibo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $221 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 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Merida pays 45% more on average, 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: $118 in Merida versus $180 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $58.1 in Merida versus $112 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 $46.00 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 1% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.