Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto la Cruz and Maracaibo Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto la Cruz and Maracaibo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $716 in Puerto la Cruz versus $734 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,159 in Puerto la Cruz versus $1,244 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,603 in Puerto la Cruz versus $1,754 in Maracaibo.

Living in Puerto la Cruz costs roughly 2% less than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Puerto la Cruz 47% lower, Maracaibo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 VES 4,108

$10.37 VES 5,795

-29.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 VES 30.8K

$39.97 VES 22.3K

37.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 VES 3,413

$8.82 VES 4,931

-30.73%

Cappuccino

$1.02 VES 571

$2.65 VES 1,480

-61.51%

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

$0.69 VES 385

$1.20 VES 673

-42.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 VES 293

$1.30 VES 727

-60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 VES 548

$2.32 VES 1,294

-57.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 VES 818

$2.95 VES 1,648

-50.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 VES 1,056

$1.79 VES 999

5.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 VES 1,515

$1.94 VES 1,084

39.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 VES 822

$1.09 VES 609

34.86%

Eggs

$2.79 VES 1,559

$3.19 VES 1,781

-12.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 VES 5,553

$5.95 VES 3,328

66.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 VES 4,092

$5.39 VES 3,012

35.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.36 VES 4,117

$6.08 VES 3,397

21.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.18 VES 2,894

$4.51 VES 2,521

14.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 VES 1,016

$1.38 VES 771

31.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 VES 1,277

$1.71 VES 957

33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 VES 1,106

$1.47 VES 822

34.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 VES 1,429

$1.16 VES 651

120.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 VES 1,209

$1.62 VES 908

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 VES 731

$1.01 VES 565

29.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 VES 1,044

$1.60 VES 892

16.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.89 VES 2,176

$3.43 VES 1,920

13.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 VES 4,382

$8.97 VES 5,012

-12.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 VES 817

$1.06 VES 593

37.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 VES 1,094

$2.64 VES 1,478

-25.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 VES 133

$0.51 VES 288

-52.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.83 VES 23.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 VES 1,699

$4.11 VES 2,297

-26.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 VES 1,549

$1.95 VES 1,091

42.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 VES 2,805

$17.77 VES 9,931

-71.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 VES 272

$0.48 VES 270

2.08%

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

$25.3K VES 14.2M

$22.2K VES 12.4M

14.16%

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

$39.3K VES 22.0M

$31.0K VES 17.3M

26.67%

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

$20.59 VES 11.5K

$16.22 VES 9,066

26.94%

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

$10.07 VES 5,630

$9.02 VES 5,044

11.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.12 VES 14.0K

$25.85 VES 14.5K

-2.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.34 VES 19.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 VES 13.1K

Cinema Ticket

$5.86 VES 3,274

$5.04 VES 2,816

16.27%

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

$60.2 VES 33.6K

$112 VES 62.7K

-46.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,418 VES 3.0M

$13.9K VES 7.8M

-61.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.11 VES 25.2K

$41.75 VES 23.3K

8.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.43 VES 20.9K

$42.17 VES 23.6K

-11.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.15 VES 24.7K

$57.8 VES 32.3K

-23.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.16 VES 22.5K

$60.3 VES 33.7K

-33.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 VES 100.5K

$180 VES 100.8K

-0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 VES 104.2K

$101 VES 56.2K

85.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 VES 247.4K

$330 VES 184.2K

34.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 VES 110.7K

$209 VES 116.9K

-5.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$522 VES 291.8K

$759 VES 424.3K

-31.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$302 VES 168.9K

$502 VES 280.4K

-39.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$221 VES 123.6K

$196 VES 109.8K

12.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

26.6

-19.81%

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

Last update for Puerto la Cruz: June 2, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Puerto la Cruz pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $55.0 in Puerto la Cruz vs $40.00 in Maracaibo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 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

Puerto la Cruz vs Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Puerto la Cruz is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Puerto la Cruz pays 13% 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: $180 in Puerto la Cruz versus $180 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $60.2 in Puerto la Cruz 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 Puerto la Cruz – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $40.00 in Maracaibo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Puerto la Cruz 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 Puerto la Cruz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.