Venezuela (VE)
Oil-rich South American nation with dramatic landscapes from the Andes to Angel Falls and the Caribbean coast, experiencing economic recovery after years of crisis, with a warm culture and very low cost of living for dollar-earning expats.
Capital: Caracas
Region: Americas
Language: Spanish
Currency: VES (Bs.)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 10)
Emergency: 171
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Venezuela — 2026 data in USD.
10
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Very affordable compared to major global cities. Your money goes a long way here.
Food & Groceries
Dozen eggs USD 1.50–2.50
Litre of milk USD 0.80–1.50
Loaf of bread (supermarket) USD 1.00–2.50
Chicken breast (1 kg) USD 2.50–5.00
Beef (1 kg, supermarket) USD 5.00–10.00
Rice (1 kg, local) USD 0.50–1.00
Corn flour (1 kg, Harina PAN) USD 0.60–1.20
Tomatoes (1 kg, market) USD 0.80–1.50
Avocados (2 medium) USD 0.50–1.50
Imported cheese (200g) USD 3.00–7.00
Bottle of wine (local/imported) USD 5.00–20.00
Case of Polar beer (24 cans) USD 12.00–18.00
Weekly grocery shop (family of 4) USD 60–150
Dining Out
Arepa at local arepera USD 1.00–3.00
Set lunch menu (menú del día) USD 3.00–7.00
Mid-range restaurant (per person) USD 10–25
Upscale restaurant Las Mercedes (per person) USD 30–60
Coffee (café con leche) USD 0.50–2.00
Pizza (medium, restaurant) USD 8–18
Sushi per person (Caracas) USD 15–35
Churrasco steak dinner (per person) USD 15–30
Rent
1-bedroom furnished apartment (Chacao/Altamira, monthly) USD 400–800
2-bedroom furnished apartment (El Rosal/Las Mercedes, monthly) USD 700–1,400
3-bedroom house (Prados del Este/La Lagunita, monthly) USD 1,200–3,000
Penthouse/luxury apartment (La Castellana, monthly) USD 2,000–5,000+
Unfurnished 2-bedroom apartment (Chacao, monthly) USD 500–1,000
Apartment outside Caracas (Valencia/Maracaibo, monthly) USD 200–600
Transport
Metro single ride (Caracas) Symbolic VES (< USD 0.01)
InDriver ride (city centre, 5km) USD 2–5
InDriver airport transfer (Maiquetía to Caracas) USD 25–50
Fuel (petrol, 40-litre tank, heavily subsidised) Effectively USD 0.01
Domestic flight Caracas–Maracaibo USD 40–100 one way
Intercity bus Caracas–Valencia USD 5–12 one way
Health & Insurance
GP consultation (private clinic) USD 20–60
Specialist consultation USD 40–100
Emergency room visit (private) USD 150–500+
Private health insurance (international plan) USD 100–350/month
Dental checkup + cleaning USD 30–80
Prescription medicine (30-day supply, generic) USD 5–30
Utilities
Electricity (monthly, apartment, heavily subsidised) USD 1–5
Water (monthly, apartment, subsidised) USD 0.50–3
Gas (cooking, monthly — piped or LPG cylinder) USD 0–15
Movistar prepaid SIM + 5GB data (monthly) USD 5–15
Digitel prepaid 10GB plan (monthly) USD 8–20
Home internet (CANTV basic, monthly) USD 10–25
Home internet (Inter fibre, 50–100 Mbps, monthly) USD 40–80
Childcare
International school Caracas (annual) USD 10,000–25,000
Private bilingual school (annual) USD 3,000–8,000
Private nursery / preschool (monthly) USD 200–500
Live-in nanny (monthly) USD 150–400
Day worker / housekeeper (monthly) USD 80–200
Leisure
Cinema ticket (Sambil, Caracas) USD 3–8
Baseball game (LVBP ticket) USD 5–25
Weekend at beach (Los Roques posada, 2 nights, flights incl.) USD 200–500/person
Rum (Diplomático Reserva, 750ml) USD 8–20 (local price)
Haircut (barbershop/salon) USD 5–20
Spanish language tutoring (private, 1 hour) USD 15–35
Weekend at Mérida (hotel 2 nights, budget) USD 100–250
Gym membership (well-equipped, Caracas, monthly) USD 30–80
Cost of Living
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