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: $710 in Porlamar versus $783 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,135 in Porlamar versus $1,303 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,560 in Porlamar versus $1,823 in Maracaibo.

Living in Porlamar costs roughly 9% less than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Porlamar 48% lower, Maracaibo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.61 VES 3,828

$10.44 VES 8,665

-55.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 VES 34.8K

$40.65 VES 33.8K

3.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.18 VES 7,622

$9.04 VES 7,510

1.55%

Cappuccino

$1.85 VES 1,536

$2.67 VES 2,219

-30.71%

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

$2.04 VES 1,690

$1.14 VES 944

78.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 VES 1,070

$1.33 VES 1,106

-3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 VES 818

$2.24 VES 1,858

-55.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 VES 1,890

$2.92 VES 2,428

-21.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 VES 1,394

$1.78 VES 1,476

-5.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 VES 1,233

$2.11 VES 1,750

-29.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 VES 972

$1.03 VES 856

13.59%

Eggs

$2.03 VES 1,684

$3.73 VES 3,101

-45.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.84 VES 4,847

$6.70 VES 5,560

-12.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.58 VES 5,467

$6.47 VES 5,370

1.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.42 VES 6,162

$7.47 VES 6,199

-0.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 VES 3,456

$4.72 VES 3,916

-11.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 VES 1,474

$1.37 VES 1,135

29.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 VES 1,230

$1.55 VES 1,290

-4.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.71 VES 1,420

$1.41 VES 1,174

21.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 VES 1,390

$1.23 VES 1,021

35.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 VES 1,299

$1.75 VES 1,449

-10.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 VES 1,533

$0.98 VES 810

88.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 812

$2.03 VES 1,684

-51.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 VES 2,550

$2.97 VES 2,464

3.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.41 VES 5,326

$8.97 VES 7,447

-28.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 VES 619

$1.09 VES 903

-31.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 VES 1,342

$2.61 VES 2,171

-37.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 VES 361

$0.43 VES 360

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.04 VES 12.5K

$41.84 VES 34.7K

-64.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 VES 4,218

$4.11 VES 3,416

23.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 VES 1,220

$2.04 VES 1,692

-27.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.34 VES 14.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 VES 431

$0.66 VES 546

-21.21%

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

$20.1K VES 16.7M

$14.9K VES 12.4M

35.07%

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

$35.0K VES 29.0M

$28.5K VES 23.7M

22.79%

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

$21.03 VES 17.5K

$63.0 VES 52.3K

-66.62%

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

$7.66 VES 6,359

$7.31 VES 6,072

4.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.81 VES 26.4K

$25.06 VES 20.8K

26.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.22 VES 33.4K

$33.94 VES 28.2K

18.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.47 VES 10.4K

$28.21 VES 23.4K

-55.80%

Cinema Ticket

$3.46 VES 2,871

$5.07 VES 4,211

-31.76%

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

$29.61 VES 24.6K

$153 VES 127.0K

-80.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,201 VES 6.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.05 VES 25.0K

$27.67 VES 23.0K

8.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.67 VES 37.1K

$32.17 VES 26.7K

38.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.9 VES 48.9K

$61.3 VES 50.9K

-3.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.5 VES 62.7K

$57.5 VES 47.8K

31.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 VES 163.8K

$162 VES 134.8K

21.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 VES 126.3K

$93.1 VES 77.3K

63.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 VES 277.1K

$298 VES 247.4K

12.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 VES 164.0K

$197 VES 163.4K

0.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$404 VES 335.7K

$743 VES 616.6K

-45.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$148 VES 123.3K

$506 VES 420.6K

-70.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$215 VES 178.8K

$200 VES 166.3K

7.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Porlamar: September 7, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in Porlamar and $162 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: $42.00 in Porlamar vs $41.00 in Maracaibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $242, 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. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 8% 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: $197 in Porlamar versus $162 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $29.61 in Porlamar versus $153 in Maracaibo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Maracaibo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 10% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.