πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $991 in Samsun versus $734 in Maracaibo.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,509 in Samsun versus $1,244 in Maracaibo.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,027 in Samsun versus $1,754 in Maracaibo.
πLiving in Samsun is roughly 35% more expensive than Maracaibo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Samsun26% lower, Maracaibo45% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Samsun
Maracaibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65βΊ351
$10.37VESΒ 5,777
-26.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.10βΊ1,153
$39.97VESΒ 22.3K
-37.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.99βΊ413
$8.82VESΒ 4,915
1.93%
Cappuccino
$2.81βΊ129
$2.65VESΒ 1,476
6.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30βΊ59.9
$1.20VESΒ 671
8.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24βΊ10.97
$1.30VESΒ 724
-81.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.84βΊ130
$2.32VESΒ 1,290
22.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97βΊ136
$2.95VESΒ 1,643
0.68%
π Groceries & Markets
Samsun
Maracaibo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05βΊ48.41
$1.79VESΒ 996
-41.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40βΊ18.32
$1.94VESΒ 1,080
-79.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90βΊ179
$1.09VESΒ 607
257.80%
Eggs
$1.71βΊ78.6
$3.19VESΒ 1,775
-46.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.10βΊ418
$5.95VESΒ 3,318
52.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.02βΊ460
$5.39VESΒ 3,003
85.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.35βΊ889
$6.08VESΒ 3,386
218.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30βΊ59.6
$4.51VESΒ 2,513
-71.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12βΊ51.3
$1.38VESΒ 769
-18.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92βΊ42.10
$1.71VESΒ 954
-46.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24βΊ57.1
$1.47VESΒ 820
-15.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60βΊ27.70
$1.16VESΒ 649
-48.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60βΊ27.77
$1.62VESΒ 905
-62.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73βΊ33.76
$1.01VESΒ 564
-27.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68βΊ31.29
$1.60VESΒ 889
-57.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04βΊ93.9
$3.43VESΒ 1,914
-40.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.62βΊ442
$8.97VESΒ 4,997
7.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01βΊ92.5
$1.06VESΒ 591
89.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50βΊ115
$2.64VESΒ 1,473
-5.30%
π Getting Around
Samsun
Maracaibo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59βΊ27.00
$0.51VESΒ 287
15.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.66βΊ444
$41.83VESΒ 23.3K
-76.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26βΊ104
$4.11VESΒ 2,290
-45.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61βΊ27.90
$1.95VESΒ 1,087
-68.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.65βΊ214
$17.77VESΒ 9,900
-73.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13βΊ51.8
$0.48VESΒ 269
135.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.8KβΊ2.0M
$22.2KVESΒ 12.4M
92.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$49.6KβΊ2.3M
$31.0KVESΒ 17.3M
59.94%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samsun
Maracaibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.83βΊ2,290
$16.22VESΒ 9,038
207.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99βΊ505
$9.02VESΒ 5,028
21.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.23βΊ516
$25.85VESΒ 14.4K
-56.56%
π Sport & Entertainment
Samsun
Maracaibo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.3βΊ3,780
$34.34VESΒ 19.1K
139.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.43VESΒ 13.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.75βΊ264
$5.04VESΒ 2,807
14.09%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Samsun
Maracaibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$500βΊ23.0K
$112VESΒ 62.5K
345.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,735βΊ171.6K
$13.9KVESΒ 7.8M
-73.17%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Samsun
Maracaibo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.79βΊ1,736
$41.75VESΒ 23.3K
-9.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.67βΊ2,098
$42.17VESΒ 23.5K
8.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8βΊ4,033
$57.8VESΒ 32.2K
51.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.24βΊ2,079
$60.3VESΒ 33.6K
-25.01%
π Accommodation & Living
Samsun
Maracaibo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500βΊ23.0K
$180VESΒ 100.5K
177.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328βΊ15.1K
$101VESΒ 56.0K
225.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$724βΊ33.3K
$330VESΒ 183.7K
119.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$523βΊ24.0K
$209VESΒ 116.6K
150.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$795βΊ36.5K
$759VESΒ 423.0K
4.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$429βΊ19.7K
$502VESΒ 279.5K
-14.48%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Samsun
Maracaibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,006βΊ46.2K
$196VESΒ 109.5K
412.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
43.33
26.6
62.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samsun: June 2, 2026
Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Samsun and $180 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Samsun pays 412% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $25.00 in Samsun vs $40.00 in Maracaibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $221, with Maracaibo 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
Samsun vs Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maracaibo cheaper than Samsun?
Maracaibo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Samsun or Maracaibo?
Samsun pays 412% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Samsun and Maracaibo?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Samsun versus $180 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $500 in Samsun versus $112 in Maracaibo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Samsun and Maracaibo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Samsun. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Samsun or Maracaibo?
At $734 in Maracaibo versus $991 in Samsun, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maracaibo but tight or insufficient in Samsun. The gap between the two cities makes Maracaibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Samsun or Maracaibo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Samsun or Maracaibo?
Safety-wise, Samsun and Maracaibo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Maracaibo gentler on the wallet β expenses run 35% less than in Samsun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.