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: $673 in Porlamar versus $747 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $932 in Porlamar versus $1,254 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,192 in Porlamar versus $1,761 in Maracaibo.

Living in Porlamar costs roughly 10% less than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Porlamar 49% lower, Maracaibo 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 VES 3,356

$10.29 VES 7,642

-56.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 VES 37.3K

$40.59 VES 30.1K

23.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 VES 5,864

$8.76 VES 6,501

-9.82%

Cappuccino

$1.53 VES 1,133

$2.72 VES 2,021

-43.75%

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

$1.69 VES 1,254

$1.14 VES 849

48.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 VES 552

$1.31 VES 971

-43.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 VES 1,031

$2.23 VES 1,656

-37.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 VES 1,657

$2.95 VES 2,191

-24.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 VES 1,261

$1.78 VES 1,322

-4.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 VES 1,093

$1.89 VES 1,407

-22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 VES 839

$1.08 VES 804

4.63%

Eggs

$1.96 VES 1,452

$3.06 VES 2,272

-35.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 VES 4,380

$6.07 VES 4,505

-2.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.62 VES 4,915

$5.36 VES 3,978

23.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.38 VES 5,478

$6.26 VES 4,651

17.89%

Apples (1kg)

$4.23 VES 3,141

$4.41 VES 3,274

-4.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 VES 1,312

$1.32 VES 981

34.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 VES 1,099

$1.64 VES 1,219

-9.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.71 VES 1,266

$1.43 VES 1,060

19.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 VES 1,240

$1.21 VES 901

38.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 VES 1,122

$1.60 VES 1,190

-5.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 VES 1,360

$1.02 VES 755

79.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 727

$1.60 VES 1,190

-38.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 VES 2,246

$3.57 VES 2,647

-15.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 VES 4,772

$9.14 VES 6,786

-29.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 VES 576

$1.06 VES 789

-26.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 VES 1,164

$2.70 VES 2,001

-41.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 VES 336

$0.48 VES 356

-6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.98 VES 31.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 VES 3,809

$3.96 VES 2,943

29.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.95 VES 2,191

$1.96 VES 1,452

50.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.42 VES 12.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 353

$0.48 VES 359

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

$22.8K VES 16.9M

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

$31.4K VES 23.3M

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

$29.82 VES 22.1K

$16.57 VES 12.3K

79.96%

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

$10.12 VES 7,514

$8.73 VES 6,483

15.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.59 VES 26.4K

$25.67 VES 19.1K

38.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 VES 37.4K

$34.20 VES 25.4K

47.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.98 VES 7,406

$23.67 VES 17.6K

-57.84%

Cinema Ticket

$3.07 VES 2,278

$4.88 VES 3,626

-37.09%

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

$114 VES 84.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K VES 10.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.42 VES 31.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.28 VES 30.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.0 VES 43.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.1 VES 45.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 VES 147.8K

$184 VES 136.6K

8.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 VES 150.0K

$104 VES 77.1K

94.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 VES 242.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 VES 156.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$392 VES 291.2K

$744 VES 552.1K

-47.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$151 VES 112.2K

$496 VES 368.3K

-69.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$212 VES 157.5K

$200 VES 148.8K

5.82%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Porlamar and $184 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Porlamar pays 6% 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 $41.00 in Maracaibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $220, 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 6% higher in Porlamar, 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: $199 in Porlamar versus $184 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 $41.00 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 11% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.