Cost of Living Comparison Between Porlamar and Maracaibo Cost of Living Comparison Between Porlamar and Maracaibo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $668 in Porlamar versus $731 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $935 in Porlamar versus $1,243 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,201 in Porlamar versus $1,755 in Maracaibo.

Living in Porlamar costs roughly 9% less than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Porlamar 50% lower, Maracaibo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.54 VES 2,210

$10.37 VES 5,044

-56.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.78 VES 24.2K

$40.50 VES 19.7K

22.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 VES 3,808

$8.91 VES 4,334

-12.12%

Cappuccino

$1.54 VES 747

$2.78 VES 1,350

-44.60%

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

$1.63 VES 794

$1.15 VES 558

41.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 VES 382

$1.30 VES 630

-39.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 VES 646

$2.28 VES 1,109

-41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 VES 1,099

$2.97 VES 1,446

-23.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 VES 808

$1.75 VES 851

-5.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 VES 740

$2.00 VES 974

-24.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 VES 545

$1.08 VES 524

3.70%

Eggs

$2.03 VES 985

$3.06 VES 1,490

-33.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.14 VES 2,987

$6.14 VES 2,985

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 VES 3,092

$5.29 VES 2,571

20.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 VES 3,694

$6.26 VES 3,044

21.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.15 VES 2,017

$4.35 VES 2,113

-4.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 VES 876

$1.37 VES 668

31.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 VES 717

$1.69 VES 821

-13.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 VES 871

$1.47 VES 713

21.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 VES 824

$1.22 VES 591

38.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 VES 740

$1.64 VES 797

-7.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 VES 863

$1.02 VES 496

73.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 476

$1.59 VES 775

-38.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 VES 1,430

$3.59 VES 1,746

-18.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.59 VES 3,206

$9.22 VES 4,484

-28.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 VES 377

$1.07 VES 520

-28.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 VES 770

$2.68 VES 1,304

-41.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 VES 236

$0.52 VES 254

-5.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.06 VES 20.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 VES 2,445

$4.02 VES 1,957

25.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.94 VES 1,429

$2.02 VES 980

45.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 VES 8,596

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 VES 250

$0.48 VES 233

8.33%

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

$22.8K VES 11.1M

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

$31.9K VES 15.5M

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

$29.69 VES 14.4K

$16.35 VES 7,949

81.59%

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

$9.93 VES 4,827

$8.60 VES 4,180

15.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.06 VES 17.0K

$25.45 VES 12.4K

37.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 VES 24.5K

$34.29 VES 16.7K

46.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 VES 4,899

$24.07 VES 11.7K

-58.12%

Cinema Ticket

$2.94 VES 1,428

$5.12 VES 2,488

-42.58%

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

$110 VES 53.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K VES 7.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.60 VES 20.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.21 VES 20.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.4 VES 28.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.9 VES 29.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 VES 96.3K

$186 VES 90.2K

6.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 VES 98.1K

$102 VES 49.4K

98.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 VES 159.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 VES 104.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$399 VES 193.8K

$750 VES 364.8K

-46.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$152 VES 73.7K

$491 VES 238.8K

-69.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$217 VES 105.6K

$202 VES 98.2K

7.55%

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 Porlamar: April 27, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Porlamar and $186 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Porlamar pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $50.0 in Porlamar vs $40.00 in Maracaibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $221, with Porlamar cheaper for home cooking.

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

Porlamar vs Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Porlamar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Porlamar pays 8% 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: $198 in Porlamar versus $186 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Maracaibo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Porlamar – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $40.00 in Maracaibo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Porlamar 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 Porlamar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.