Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mesa, AZ and Caracas

For one person, living is cheaper in Caracas: $1,312 a month against $2,594 in Mesa, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $15,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mesa, AZ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,594
/mo nomad
Caracas
🇻🇪 Venezuela
$1,312
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mesa, AZ and in Caracas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mesa, AZ and in Caracas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,594 per month in Mesa, AZ vs $1,312 in Caracas, rent included.

  • Mesa, AZ $2,594
  • Caracas $1,312

A couple spends around $3,806 per month in Mesa, AZ vs $2,236 in Caracas, rent included.

  • Mesa, AZ $3,806
  • Caracas $2,236

A family of three spends $5,018 per month in Mesa, AZ vs $3,160 in Caracas, rent included.

  • Mesa, AZ $5,018
  • Caracas $3,160

Mesa, AZ costs about 98% more than Caracas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Mesa, AZ sits 94% above the global median, while Caracas is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mesa, AZ
Caracas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.06 $20.06
$10.63 VES 9,281
88.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5 $81.5
$68.2 VES 59.6K
19.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.02 $13.02
$10.99 VES 9,599
18.47%
Cappuccino
$6.14 $6.14
$3.73 VES 3,262
64.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.54 VES 1,347
77.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.28 VES 1,121
74.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 $6.03
$2.05 VES 1,794
194.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.50 $7.50
$2.91 VES 2,543
157.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mesa, AZ
Caracas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$2.76 VES 2,410
-68.48%
White Bread (500g)
$4.25 $4.25
$2.32 VES 2,027
83.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.99 $5.99
$1.89 VES 1,653
216.93%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$4.82 VES 4,214
-8.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.28 $13.28
$10.18 VES 8,888
30.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.73 $13.73
$9.44 VES 8,250
45.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.41 $17.41
$11.51 VES 10.1K
51.26%
Apples (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$7.23 VES 6,313
-24.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.96 VES 1,710
-5.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$2.13 VES 1,862
96.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.26 $5.26
$2.37 VES 2,067
121.94%
Potato (1kg)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.24 VES 1,953
47.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.24 VES 1,954
30.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.61 VES 1,409
32.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.41 VES 2,101
7.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.66 $10.66
$4.57 VES 3,989
133.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.61 $14.61
$12.02 VES 10.5K
21.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.37 VES 1,194
76.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$2.17 VES 1,893
57.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Mesa, AZ
Caracas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$0.51 VES 449
403.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.67 $35.67
$29.63 VES 25.9K
20.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 $2.72
$4.88 VES 4,265
-44.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 $1.40
$2.68 VES 2,342
-47.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.58 $35.58
$15.17 VES 13.2K
134.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$0.86 VES 753
37.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$25.1K VES 22.0M
42.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$38.6K VES 33.7M
-34.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mesa, AZ
Caracas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$241 $241
$22.07 VES 19.3K
992.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$11.81 VES 10.3K
427.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.5 $73.5
$38.64 VES 33.8K
90.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mesa, AZ
Caracas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.45 $41.45
$66.8 VES 58.4K
-37.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.80 $10.80
$17.23 VES 15.0K
-37.32%
Cinema Ticket
$13.02 $13.02
$6.48 VES 5,658
100.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mesa, AZ
Caracas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,179 $1,179
$159 VES 139.3K
639.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K $15.9K
$6,138 VES 5.4M
158.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mesa, AZ
Caracas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 $54.8
$77.8 VES 67.9K
-29.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.58 $42.58
$50.6 VES 44.2K
-15.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 $99.7
$136 VES 119.0K
-26.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$136 VES 119.0K
-16.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mesa, AZ
Caracas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 $1,349
$619 VES 540.3K
118.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 $1,190
$418 VES 364.8K
184.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,292 $2,292
$1,106 VES 965.7K
107.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,998 $1,998
$887 VES 774.4K
125.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,970 $2,970
$1,458 VES 1.3M
103.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,566 $3,566
$690 VES 602.9K
416.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mesa, AZ
Caracas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,124 $4,124
$304 VES 265.3K
1257.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
22
-70.73%

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

Last update for Mesa, AZ: October 5, 2026

Last update for Caracas: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mesa, AZ
$1.2K
Caracas
$418 64.9% $772
Groceries & Markets
Mesa, AZ
$439
Caracas
$340 22.5% $99
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mesa, AZ
$377
Caracas
$73 80.8% $304
Eating Out
Mesa, AZ
$338
Caracas
$190 43.8% $148
Clothing & Footwear
Mesa, AZ
$140
Caracas
$180 28.7% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Mesa, AZ
$67
Caracas
$80 18.2% $12
Getting Around
Mesa, AZ
$56
Caracas
$50 10.2% $5.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,349 in Mesa, AZ versus $619 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 1258% higher in Mesa, AZ, 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 $82.0 in Mesa, AZ versus $68.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $340 – making Caracas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Mesa, AZ
🇻🇪 Caracas
🕒 Local time
05:45 5:45 AM
08:45 8:45 AM
3 h ahead of Mesa, AZ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
504,258
3,274,000 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

VES, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Venezuelan Bolívar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 873 VES (1,000 VES = 1.14 USD). 1 EUR = 979 VES (1,000 VES = 1.02 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mesa, AZ Caracas 5,230 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mesa, AZ
  • Caracas

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Mesa, AZ vs Caracas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caracas cheaper than Mesa, AZ?
Yes – Mesa, AZ is pricier by about 98%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,890 per month in Mesa, AZ and $1,968 in Caracas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Caracas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 20% less in Caracas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,179 per month in Mesa, AZ and $159 in Caracas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mesa, AZ or in Caracas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Caracas, where all-in costs run around $1,312, than in Mesa, AZ at $2,594. In Caracas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mesa, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mesa, AZ or Caracas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Caracas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Caracas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mesa, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Mesa, AZ vs other spots: cost of living compared

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