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Venezuela · Cost of Living 2026
Cost of Living · South America

Cost of Living in Venezuela
for Expats 2026

Venezuela has a cost of living 55% cheaper than New York City (CoL Index 45.0). A comfortable single-person lifestyle runs approximately $1,800/month, making it a affordable destination for expats and digital nomads.

55% cheaper than New York City

Your $5,000 NYC budget → $2,250/month in Venezuela · your dollar goes 122% further here

$415/mo 1-bed apt · est. avg.
$6 Restaurant meal · est.
$45/mo Monthly transit · est.
$900–$1,800/month Typical budget / month
World Bank 2026GlobalCostData 2026 Updated April 2026YMYL · Data guide only
Cost of Living Index
45.0
NYC = 100 baseline · Moderate
0NYC 100200+
Rent
$415/mo
1-bed city centre · 87% cheaper than NYC
Dining out
$6
Per meal · 72% cheaper than NYC
Groceries
$210/mo
Monthly budget · 50% cheaper than NYC
GNI / capita
N/A
World Bank PPP
Purchasing Power
0
Your $ goes 122% further here
Inflation 2026
254.95%
Annual rate

Key Cost of Living Data

Venezuela 2026 · NYC baseline = 100
World Bank 2026
Cost of Livingvs NYC · 55% cheaper than NYC
45.0NYC = 100
Rent1-bed city centre
13.0~$415/mo
RestaurantsPer meal
28.0~$6
GroceriesMonthly basket
50.0~$210/mo
Purch. PowerLocal buying
0×2.22 expat
vs NYC baseline
CategoryIndexEst. USDTier
Cost of Living45.055% cheaper than NYCModerate
Rent (1-bed city)13.0$415/mo/mo est.Cheap
Groceries50.0$210/mo/mo est.Moderate
Restaurants28.0$6/meal est.Cheap
Local Purch. Power0×2.22 expat stretch
GNI per CapitaN/AWorld Bank PPP
Inflation Rate254.95%Annual 2026

Housing & Rent

USD per month · 2026
World Bank · GlobalCostData

Rent in Venezuela is well below the NYC baseline (Rent Index 13.0). A 1-bedroom apartment in a major city centre costs around $415/month, dropping to $275/month outside the centre. Three-bedroom apartments typically run $715+/month centrally.

TypeUSD / monthNotes
1-bed, city centre$415/moCapital city avg.
1-bed, suburbs$275/moOutside centre
3-bed, city centre$715/moFamily / shared
Utilities (85m²)$70/moElectricity, gas, water

Food & Dining

Per-item prices in USD
GlobalCostData 2026

Food in Venezuela is budget-friendly. An inexpensive restaurant meal costs around $6/person; a mid-range dinner for two runs $44. Monthly grocery spending for one person averages $210.

ItemPrice (USD)Notes
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$6Per person
Meal for 2, mid-range$223-course
Monthly groceries (single)$210/moEstimated
Beer (0.5L, restaurant)$1.12Local brand
Coffee / espresso$1.57Local café

Transport

Monthly costs in USD
GlobalCostData 2026

A monthly public transport pass in Venezuela costs roughly $60. Taxis and ride-hailing are affordable, making day-to-day mobility a minor budget item.

TypePrice (USD)Notes
Monthly transit pass$45/moPublic transport
Taxi per km$0.90/kmAvg. rate
Petrol (1L)$0.72/LRegular fuel
Internet speed32.0 MbpsModerate

Healthcare & Quality of Life

Key indicators for expats
WHO · UNDP 2026

Life Expectancy70.7 yrs
Physicians / 1,0001.7
Safety Index1.9Low Safety
HDI Score0.699Medium Development
Education Index0.694
Air Quality PM2.516.3 µg/m³

Key Insight

Venezuela's CoL Index of 45.0 places it in the affordable category globally. At this price level, expats from Western countries typically enjoy significant purchasing power advantages. Current inflation is elevated at 254.9%, which may affect budgets over time.

Budget-Friendly

Our Verdict for Venezuela

Venezuela offers strong value for money at CoL 45.0 — significantly below NYC and most Western cities. Digital nomads and expats from high-cost countries benefit most from this gap.

Best for

  • Digital nomads & remote workers on foreign income
  • Budget-conscious expats maximising lifestyle quality

May not suit

  • Fixed-income expats (inflation 254.9% may erode savings)

Free resource

Planning a move to Venezuela?

Get our Expat Budget Calculator — personalised monthly cost estimate for your lifestyle and city.

Monthly Budget Estimates

Venezuela · all-in USD per month
Frugal
$900/monthper month
Shared housing, cooking at home, local transport
Comfortable
$1,800/monthper month
Private apartment, regular dining out, occasional travel
Western Expat
$2,900/monthper month
Premium lifestyle, frequent travel, international standard

Monthly Budget Estimator

Cost of living in —

Estimated monthly total
$0
 

Country vs Region Average

Regional cost comparison

This country Region average

Frequently Asked Questions

Venezuela cost of living
How much does it cost to live in Venezuela?
A comfortable single-person lifestyle in Venezuela costs approximately $900–$1,800/month, covering rent, food, transport, and leisure. The CoL Index is 45.0 (NYC = 100), meaning it is 55% cheaper than New York City.
Is Venezuela affordable for expats?
Venezuela is affordable by global standards (CoL Index 45.0). Expats from Western Europe or North America typically find their purchasing power goes significantly further here.
What is a comfortable monthly budget in Venezuela?
A frugal lifestyle in Venezuela — shared housing, cooking at home, local transport — runs around $900/month. A comfortable single-person budget (private apartment, regular dining out, occasional travel) typically falls between $900 and $1,800/month. A Western expat lifestyle with frequent travel costs $2,880+/month.
What is the average rent in Venezuela?
Rent in Venezuela averages $415/month for a 1-bedroom city-centre apartment and $275/month in residential areas. Three-bedroom family apartments typically start at $715/month centrally. These are estimates from the Rent Index (13.0 vs NYC's 100).
How does inflation affect living costs in Venezuela?
Venezuela has elevated inflation at 254.9%. This may erode purchasing power for fixed-income expats — factor in annual cost increases when budgeting.
Sources: World Bank Open Data 2026 · GlobalCostData Research 2026 · OECD Statistics. Data verified April 2026. Not financial or legal advice.
Updated April 2026. Sources: World Bank, ILO, national statistics offices. Methodology. City-level prices vary — check local listings before booking.