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: $736 in Puerto la Cruz versus $745 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Puerto la Cruz versus $1,249 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,598 in Puerto la Cruz versus $1,753 in Maracaibo.

Living in Puerto la Cruz costs roughly 1% less than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Puerto la Cruz 45% lower, Maracaibo 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 VES 5,368

$10.59 VES 7,784

-31.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 VES 40.2K

$40.33 VES 29.6K

35.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 VES 4,397

$8.79 VES 6,458

-31.97%

Cappuccino

$0.98 VES 722

$2.75 VES 2,025

-64.36%

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

$0.67 VES 489

$1.15 VES 844

-41.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 VES 350

$1.30 VES 956

-63.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 VES 752

$2.20 VES 1,614

-53.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 VES 1,088

$3.03 VES 2,228

-51.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 VES 1,379

$1.72 VES 1,266

9.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 VES 2,041

$2.01 VES 1,476

38.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 VES 1,097

$1.11 VES 817

34.23%

Eggs

$2.78 VES 2,042

$3.04 VES 2,236

-8.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 VES 7,399

$5.90 VES 4,335

70.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.42 VES 5,457

$5.27 VES 3,874

40.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.30 VES 5,369

$6.34 VES 4,657

15.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.11 VES 3,756

$4.31 VES 3,166

18.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 VES 1,375

$1.37 VES 1,007

36.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 VES 1,625

$1.68 VES 1,238

31.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 VES 1,516

$1.48 VES 1,084

39.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 VES 1,974

$1.17 VES 861

129.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 VES 1,516

$1.69 VES 1,241

21.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 VES 1,002

$0.99 VES 726

37.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 VES 1,430

$1.63 VES 1,202

19.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 VES 2,979

$3.44 VES 2,529

17.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 VES 5,781

$9.27 VES 6,814

-15.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 VES 1,112

$1.07 VES 783

41.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 VES 1,493

$2.65 VES 1,946

-23.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 VES 193

$0.49 VES 358

-46.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.21 VES 31.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 VES 2,140

$3.90 VES 2,866

-25.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 VES 1,934

$1.96 VES 1,443

34.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.88 VES 3,588

$17.73 VES 13.0K

-72.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 377

$0.52 VES 380

-1.92%

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

$25.0K VES 18.4M

$22.8K VES 16.8M

9.42%

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

$40.2K VES 29.5M

$31.2K VES 22.9M

28.66%

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

$19.95 VES 14.7K

$16.36 VES 12.0K

21.94%

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

$9.99 VES 7,342

$8.61 VES 6,328

16.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.89 VES 18.3K

$25.41 VES 18.7K

-2.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.13 VES 25.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.62 VES 17.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 VES 4,514

$4.97 VES 3,650

23.54%

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

$59.5 VES 43.8K

$111 VES 81.7K

-46.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,486 VES 4.0M

$14.3K VES 10.5M

-61.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.87 VES 33.0K

$41.23 VES 30.3K

8.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.37 VES 27.5K

$41.87 VES 30.8K

-10.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.74 VES 32.9K

$58.7 VES 43.1K

-23.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.99 VES 29.4K

$59.6 VES 43.8K

-32.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 VES 131.1K

$181 VES 132.7K

-1.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 VES 136.9K

$102 VES 75.1K

82.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 VES 324.2K

$327 VES 240.4K

34.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 VES 146.3K

$213 VES 156.3K

-6.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$513 VES 377.2K

$763 VES 561.2K

-32.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$310 VES 228.0K

$497 VES 365.6K

-37.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$229 VES 168.4K

$198 VES 145.8K

15.49%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $178 in Puerto la Cruz and $181 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Puerto la Cruz pays 15% 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 $277 vs $220 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 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 15% higher in Puerto la Cruz, 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: $178 in Puerto la Cruz versus $181 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $59.5 in Puerto la Cruz versus $111 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 1% less than in Maracaibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.