Cost Of Living in Caracas 2024

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Caracas

Whether you're living in Caracas or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Average Monthly Expenditure

40,000 VES

per month
$1,100

3,100 VES   $86
$11,000   400,000 VES

Single

28,000 VES

per month
$770

9,300 VES   $260
$5,200   190,000 VES

Couple

46,000 VES

per month
$1,300

15,000 VES   $430
$6,900   250,000 VES

Family

62,000 VES

per month
$1,700

22,000 VES   $600
$9,400   340,000 VES

Student

18,000 VES

per month
$490

7,100 VES   $200
$890   32,000 VES
The figures displayed here are inclusive of everything: housing, travel, groceries, healthcare, etc.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Caracas is 28,000 VES. Expenses can range from 9,300 VES at the minimum level to 190,000 VES at the highest end.


Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Caracas is 46,000 VES. Expenditure can range from 15,000 VES to 250,000 VES per month.


Families

The average cost of living for families in Caracas is 62,000 VES per month. Families spend anywhere from 22,000 VES to 340,000 VES.


Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Caracas is 18,000 VES. Students spend from 7,100 VES to 32,000 VES per month.


Spending behavior can change drastically from one person to another. It is best to consider the minimum, average, and maximum spending together.

Prices and cost of goods and services in Caracas


Dining, food, and beverages costs


Large bottle of water
4.2 VES 4.8 VES 5.5 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.12 $0.13 $0.15
Fast food combo meal
36 VES 72 VES 120 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.99 $2 $3.3
Restaurant meal for one
130 VES 190 VES 380 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$3.5 $5.2 $10
Fine dining meal for one
250 VES 380 VES 1,500 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$7 $10 $42
Soda or Soft Drink
5.1 VES 6 VES 7.2 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.14 $0.17 $0.20
Cappuccino or latte
30 VES 48 VES 72 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.83 $1.3 $2

Grocery and market costs


Milk large bottle
24 VES 29 VES 36 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.66 $0.79 $0.99
Loaf of bread
4.3 VES 4.9 VES 5.7 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.12 $0.14 $0.16
12 eggs
18 VES 24 VES 36 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.50 $0.66 $0.99
Fresh whole chicken
41 VES 53 VES 75 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$1.1 $1.5 $2.1
Beef 1 kg or 1 lb
48 VES 72 VES 140 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$1.3 $2 $4
Rice 1 kg or 1 lb
19 VES 26 VES 37 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.53 $0.73 $1
Tomato 1 kg or 1 lb
7.2 VES 9.6 VES 18 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.20 $0.26 $0.50
Apples 1 kg or 1 lb
13 VES 17 VES 28 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.35 $0.46 $0.76

Commute, travel, and transportation costs


20 minutes taxi ride
31 VES 38 VES 75 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.87 $1 $2.1
Average car full tank
180 VES 240 VES 480 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$5 $6.6 $13
Average car 1-day rental
200 VES 260 VES 400 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$5.5 $7.3 $11
Average car price
90,000 VES 180,000 VES 240,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$2,500 $5,000 $6,600
Bus ticket one way
6.6 VES 9.9 VES 20 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$0.18 $0.27 $0.55
Car Service
260 VES 400 VES 790 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$7.3 $11 $22

Utility cost (monthly)


Utility Bill - Individual
560 VES 1,700 VES 11,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$15 $46 $310
Utility Bill - Couple
770 VES 2,300 VES 12,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$21 $64 $340
Utility Bill - Family
650 VES 1,900 VES 10,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$18 $52 $280
Internet and cable
180 VES 360 VES 480 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$5 $9.9 $13
Mobile phone charges
140 VES 240 VES 720 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$4 $6.6 $20

Leisure and activities costs


Movie ticket
90 VES 120 VES 180 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$2.5 $3.3 $5
One month gym membership
320 VES 400 VES 790 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$8.8 $11 $22

Cloths and accessories costs


Pair of jeans or pants
230 VES 330 VES 490 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$6.5 $9.1 $14
Woman dress
220 VES 300 VES 990 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$6.1 $8.4 $27
Woman shoes
210 VES 280 VES 660 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$5.8 $7.8 $18
Men's shoes
180 VES 220 VES 440 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$5 $6.1 $12
Men suit
200 VES 250 VES 1,300 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$5.5 $6.9 $37
Regular t-shirt
99 VES 130 VES 400 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$2.7 $3.7 $11

Housing costs / monthly rent


Studio apartment
3,300 VES 4,900 VES 13,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$91 $140 $370
1-bedroom apartment
4,900 VES 7,900 VES 20,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$140 $220 $550
2-bedroom apartment
6,600 VES 9,900 VES 26,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$180 $270 $730

Housing costs / Buying


Studio apartment
660,000 VES 990,000 VES 2M VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$18,000 $27,000 $55,000
1-bedroom apartment
790,000 VES 1.3M VES 4.9M VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$22,000 $37,000 $140,000
2-bedroom apartment
1.3M VES 4M VES 7.9M VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$37,000 $110,000 $220,000

Furniture Costs


King Size Bed
3,600 VES 4,500 VES 6,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$99 $120 $170
Double Bed
2,400 VES 3,600 VES 4,500 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$66 $99 $120
Single Bed
2,100 VES 2,800 VES 3,600 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$58 $76 $99
Living Room
4,000 VES 5,100 VES 18,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$110 $140 $500
Dining Table
1,800 VES 2,400 VES 4,500 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$50 $66 $120
Sofa or Couch
2,400 VES 3,300 VES 7,200 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$66 $90 $200

Electronics and House Appliance Costs


TV Set
2,400 VES 3,600 VES 7,200 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$66 $99 $200
Fridge or Freezer
2,100 VES 3,300 VES 4,500 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$58 $90 $120
Washing Machine
2,800 VES 4,000 VES 7,200 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$76 $110 $200
Stove or Cooker
2,600 VES 3,300 VES 4,500 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$71 $90 $120
Mobile Phone
3,000 VES 3,600 VES 5,100 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$83 $99 $140
Laptop or Computer
3,300 VES 4,000 VES 7,200 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$90 $110 $200

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Caracas

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.


Spending to Income Ratio

93%

87% to 100%

( expenditure / income ) x 100


Expense to income distribution levels

Spending To Income Ratio% People
< 50%3%
50% - 60%7%
60% - 70%13%
70% - 80%24%
80% - 90%23%
90% - 100%12%
100% - 110%7%
110% - 120%4%
120% - 130%3%
130% - 140%3%
> 140%2%

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Caracas is 93% This means that on average, people spend around 93% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 13% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.


How can spending be more than income?

A value higher than 100% means that the expenditure of those people is higher than their income. They are spending more than what they earn. This is possible in two scenarios. They are either borrowing from their savings to survive or they are borrowing from other sources (relatives, friends, banks, etc.). More about this in the debt section.



Individual
84%
Spending-Income-Ratio
78%
91%

Couple
88%
Spending-Income-Ratio
82%
96%

Family
98%
Spending-Income-Ratio
91%
110%

How do people spend their money in Caracas?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

The percentage figures in this section are percentages of total spending not income. If you would like to see the percentage of expenses as related to income or salary, see other sections.

Housing Expenditure21%

21% of total expenses on average (10% to 29%)

LOW$26   930 VES
AVERAGE$330   12,000 VES
HIGH$3,300   120,000 VES
Per Month

People living in Caracas typically spend from 10% to 29% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 21% being the average. The average spend on housing is 12,000 VES with expenditure ranging from 930 VES to 120,000 VES. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utilities, Electricity, Water9%

9% of total expenses on average (6% to 13%)

LOW$4.3   150 VES
AVERAGE$56   2,000 VES
HIGH$560   20,000 VES
Per Month

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Caracas ranges from 6% to 13% of total expenses with 9% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 2,000 VES with 150 VES and 20,000 VES being the upper and lower limits.

Transport, Fuel, Commute6%

6% of total expenses on average (2% to 10%)

LOW$8.6   310 VES
AVERAGE$110   4,000 VES
HIGH$1,100   40,000 VES
Per Month

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 310 VES to 40,000 VES on commuting with 4,000 VES being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 2% or as high as 10%.

Food and Groceries Cost29%

29% of total expenses on average (21% to 35%)

LOW$21   770 VES
AVERAGE$280   10,000 VES
HIGH$2,800   100,000 VES
Per Month

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Caracas is 10,000 VES. The cost of groceries can range between 770 VES to 100,000 VES. People spend on average about 29% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 21% and 35% respectively.

Healthcare and Medical Services11%

11% of total expenses on average (6% to 14%)

LOW$6   220 VES
AVERAGE$78   2,800 VES
HIGH$780   28,000 VES
Per Month

People in Caracas allocate 6% to 14% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 220 VES to 28,000 VES with 2,800 VES being the norm.

Leisure and Shopping3%

3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)

LOW$3.4   120 VES
AVERAGE$45   1,600 VES
HIGH$450   16,000 VES
Per Month

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 120 VES to 16,000 VES with 1,600 VES being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most residents.

Education and Schooling5%

5% of total expenses on average (3% to 11%)

LOW$5.2   190 VES
AVERAGE$67   2,400 VES
HIGH$670   24,000 VES
Per Month

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 2,400 VES per month with 190 VES being the minimum spent amount and 24,000 VES being the maximum.

Other Expenses15%

15% of total expenses on average (10% to 22%)

LOW$11   400 VES
AVERAGE$150   5,200 VES
HIGH$1,500   52,000 VES
Per Month

How much money can you save in Caracas every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.


What percentage of people in Caracas manage to save money from their income every month?


Saving Money
55%
Not Saving
45%

Almost 55% of the surveyed people in Caracas said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 45% said that aren't saving anything.


Percentage of people saving money by population group in Caracas

GroupSaversNon Savers
Singles58%43%
Couples52%48%
Families47%53%

Savings-to-Income Ratio

The savings-to-income ratio is measured as the percentage of income that people save over a specific period and it is simply calculated by dividing the saved money by total income and then multiplying the result by 100. (Savings / Income) x 100.


Saving to Income Ratio

7.4% 15% of income 29%
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

Average Monthly Saved Amount

860 VES
$24
11,000 VES
$310
110,000 VES
$3,100
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

For most people, 7.4% to 29% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 15% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 11,000 VES on average with savings ranging from 860 VES to 110,000 VES.

58% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 52% of couples said the same. 47% of families confirmed their ability to save money.


How much money do people actually save in Caracas?

The amount of money that people can afford to save depends hugely on their income. It is better to focus on the percentage when trying to understand saving patterns.


Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

11% 19% of income 31%
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

Average Monthly Saved Amount

2,600 VES
$72
7,700 VES
$210
52,000 VES
$1,400
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Saving To Income Ratio% Singles
0% - 10%35%
10% - 20%27%
20% - 30%17%
30% - 40%10%
40% - 50%8%
> 50%3%

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 11% to 31% of their monthly income to savings, with 19% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 7,700 VES with 2,600 VES and 52,000 VES being the minimum and maximum respectively.


Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

8.4% 17% of income 30%
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

Average Monthly Saved Amount

4,300 VES
$120
13,000 VES
$360
69,000 VES
$1,900
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Saving To Income Ratio% Couples
0% - 10%39%
10% - 20%29%
20% - 30%20%
30% - 40%5%
40% - 50%5%
> 50%2%

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 8.4% to 30% of their monthly income, with 17% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 13,000 VES with 4,300 VES and 69,000 VES being the minimum and maximum respectively.


Families

Saving to Income Ratio

7.4% 14% of income 27%
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

Average Monthly Saved Amount

6,000 VES
$170
17,000 VES
$480
95,000 VES
$2,600
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Saving To Income Ratio% Families
0% - 10%42%
10% - 20%32%
20% - 30%21%
30% - 40%2%
40% - 50%2%
> 50%1%

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Caracas can save anywhere between 7.4% to 27% of their monthly income, with 14% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 17,000 VES with 6,000 VES and 95,000 VES being the minimum and maximum respectively.

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

  • 50% for needs and financial obligations

    This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

  • 30% for wants and discretionary spending

    This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

  • 20% for savings and emergency fund

    This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.

Affordable living in Caracas

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Caracas?


Yes
45%
No
55%

Around 45% of surveyed residents think that living in Caracas is affordable with proper budgeting while 55% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Caracas

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options56%

Few low-cost options44%


Based on the survey, 56% of the people living in Caracas have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 44% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Caracas whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes43%

No57%


Based on the survey, 57% of the people living in Caracas said that they don't have an emergency fund while 43% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Venezuela

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy38%


We asked residents of Venezuela whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 62% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 38% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.


Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Venezuela have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so asked the people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 56% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 44% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance56%

Easily manages finances44%

Financial goals of people in Caracas

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Caracas, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.


Financial Goal% People
Emergency Fund9%
Debt Reduction49%
Retirement Savings12%
Education Funding6%
Homeownership19%
Investing5%
Travel or Lifestyle4%
Healthcare Expenses17%
Financial Independence2%

Around 9% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 49% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 12% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 6% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 19% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 5% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 4% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 17% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Saving Challenges in Caracas

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Caracas. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.


Reason% People
Low Income4%
High Expenses7%
Debt and Loans10%
Lack of Budgeting Skills13%
Impulsive Spending13%
Financial Emergencies8%
Living the moment4%
Will do it later24%
Inflation15%
Social Pressure2%
Market Instability1%

Around 4% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 7% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 10% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 13% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 13% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 8% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 4% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 24% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 15% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 2% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or societal expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 1% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Caracas

Where do people choose to put their savings?


Saving Type% People
Emergency Funds13%
Gold15%
Savings Accounts16%
Retirement Accounts9%
Cash Savings24%
Real Estate8%
Investment4%
Stocks3%
Bonds4%
Mutual Funds1%
Certificates of Deposit2%

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Caracas

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Caracas and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Venezuela is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.


The typical saved amount of money you should have at every age as multiples of monthly salary:
AgeAmount
255x monthly salary at age 25
3010x monthly salary at age 30
3515x monthly salary at age 35
4025x monthly salary at age 40
4532x monthly salary at age 45
5048x monthly salary at age 50
5556x monthly salary at age 55
6064x monthly salary at age 60
6578x monthly salary at age 65

The typical average saved amount of money you should have at every age in Caracas:
AgeAmount
25100,000 VES
30210,000 VES
35360,000 VES
40510,000 VES
45770,000 VES
501.1M VES
551.3M VES
601.6M VES
651.9M VES

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Caracas about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Source% People
Pensions11%
Savings24%
Investments11%
Social Security6%
Annuities6%
Part-time Job18%
Real Estate19%
Dividends and Interest6%

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Caracas

6,900 VES
$190
21,000 VES
$580
140,000 VES
$3,800
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Caracas


Percentage of people who are in debt


In Debt
33%
Debt Free
67%

According to the survey, 33% of the people in Caracas have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 67% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.


Debt-to-income ratio in Caracas

Debt to income ratio

35%

27% to 43%

( monthly debt payment / monthly income ) x 100

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 35% of the people's monthly income in Caracas goes to debt settlement.


Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

Debt-to-income ratio% People
> 60%4%
50% - 60%23%
40% - 50%17%
30% - 40%19%
20% - 30%7%
10% - 20%7%
0% - 10%24%

According to our data, 4% of the debtors in Caracas pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 23% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 17% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 19% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 7% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.


Distribution by type of debt in Caracas

Debt% People
Real Estate Mortgage5%
Auto Loan10%
Student Loan5%
Credit Card33%
Personal Loan48%

5% of debtors in Caracas confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 33% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 10% of people and personal loans rose at 48%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 5% of debtors in Caracas.


About credit score and debt management

Managing debt is a critical aspect of maintaining a favorable credit score. Debt reduction is the first thing you should do improve your financial situation. Getting rid of debt takes precedence over saving money because of interest rates.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.


Loan Affordability Index in Caracas

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Caracas how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Frequency% People
Never47%
Once a year25%
Twice a year14%
Three times a year10%
Four times a year5%

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Caracas

Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.


Rent Cost in Caracas

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment
3,300 VES 4,900 VES 13,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$91 $140 $370
1-bedroom apartment
4,900 VES 7,900 VES 20,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$140 $220 $550
2-bedroom apartment
6,600 VES 9,900 VES 26,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$180 $270 $730
3-bedroom apartment
7,900 VES 13,000 VES 36,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$220 $370 $1,000
Furnished apartment
16,000 VES 40,000 VES 79,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$440 $1,100 $2,200
Townhouse
13,000 VES 20,000 VES 57,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$370 $550 $1,600
House
16,000 VES 40,000 VES 79,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$440 $1,100 $2,200
Villa
20,000 VES 49,000 VES 79,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$550 $1,400 $2,200

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Caracas ranges between 3,300 VES and 13,000 VES, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 4,900 VES to 20,000 VES. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 6,600 VES and 26,000 VES per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 7,900 VES to 36,000 VES. The average rent of a townhouse in Caracas is around 20,000 VES while house rental costs can be as high as 40,000 VES per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 20,000 VES to 79,000 VES per month.



Apartment and house prices in Caracas

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment
660,000 VES 990,000 VES 2M VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$18,000 $27,000 $55,000
1-bedroom apartment
790,000 VES 1.3M VES 4.9M VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$22,000 $37,000 $140,000
2-bedroom apartment
1.3M VES 4M VES 7.9M VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$37,000 $110,000 $220,000
3-bedroom apartment
4.4M VES 6.6M VES 20M VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$120,000 $180,000 $550,000
Townhouse
5.7M VES 13M VES 49M VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$160,000 $370,000 $1.4M
House
6.6M VES 40M VES 57M VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$180,000 $1.1M $1.6M
Villa
7.9M VES 44M VES 66M VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM
$220,000 $1.2M $1.8M

The average price of a studio apartment in Caracas can range from 660,000 VES to 2M VES depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 790,000 VES to 4.9M VES. A villa can cost you 44M VES on average with prices ranging from 7.9M VES to 66M VES.


If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Caracas will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.

House / apartment prices to income ratio


Property price to income ratio

( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100


28 x78 monthly income 194
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

Property prices in Caracas can be x78 to x194 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x78 multiples of the average monthly salary in Caracas.



Rent to income ratio


Rent to income ratio

( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100


18% 29% of income 39%
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

The average rent-to-income ratio in Caracas is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 39% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.


The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Housing Affordability Index
26%

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.


FROM
1.6%
AVERAGE
2.6%
TO
3.5%

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.


62 VES 800 VES 8,000 VES
MINIMUM AVERAGE MAXIMUM

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.


Single
Spending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Caracas

Housing27%

27% of total expenses on average (15% to 39%)

LOW$93   3,300 VES
AVERAGE$280   10,000 VES
HIGH$1,900   67,000 VES
Per Month

Utilities, Electricity, Water10%

10% of total expenses on average (6% to 15%)

LOW$15   560 VES
AVERAGE$46   1,700 VES
HIGH$310   11,000 VES
Per Month

Transport, Fuel4%

4% of total expenses on average (2% to 10%)

LOW$21   740 VES
AVERAGE$62   2,200 VES
HIGH$410   15,000 VES
Per Month

Food and Groceries20%

20% of total expenses on average (14% to 25%)

LOW$41   1,500 VES
AVERAGE$120   4,500 VES
HIGH$820   30,000 VES
Per Month

Healthcare13%

13% of total expenses on average (7% to 17%)

LOW$23   840 VES
AVERAGE$70   2,500 VES
HIGH$460   17,000 VES
Per Month

Leisure, Shopping1%

1% of total expenses on average (1% to 4%)

LOW$13   460 VES
AVERAGE$39   1,400 VES
HIGH$260   9,300 VES
Per Month

Education1%

1% of total expenses on average (0.00% to 3%)

LOW$5.2   190 VES
AVERAGE$15   560 VES
HIGH$100   3,700 VES
Per Month

Other Expenses23%

23% of total expenses on average (15% to 27%)

LOW$46   1,700 VES
AVERAGE$140   5,000 VES
HIGH$930   33,000 VES
Per Month


Couple
Average monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Caracas

Housing24%

24% of total expenses on average (17% to 34%)

LOW$140   5,100 VES
AVERAGE$430   15,000 VES
HIGH$2,300   82,000 VES
Per Month

Utilities, Electricity, Water9%

9% of total expenses on average (7% to 13%)

LOW$21   770 VES
AVERAGE$64   2,300 VES
HIGH$340   12,000 VES
Per Month

Transport, Fuel8%

8% of total expenses on average (2% to 13%)

LOW$52   1,900 VES
AVERAGE$150   5,600 VES
HIGH$820   30,000 VES
Per Month

Food and Groceries18%

18% of total expenses on average (13% to 23%)

LOW$60   2,200 VES
AVERAGE$180   6,500 VES
HIGH$960   35,000 VES
Per Month

Healthcare15%

15% of total expenses on average (9% to 19%)

LOW$47   1,700 VES
AVERAGE$140   5,100 VES
HIGH$760   27,000 VES
Per Month

Leisure, Shopping2%

2% of total expenses on average (0.00% to 5%)

LOW$26   930 VES
AVERAGE$77   2,800 VES
HIGH$410   15,000 VES
Per Month

Education1%

1% of total expenses on average (0.00% to 3%)

LOW$8.6   310 VES
AVERAGE$26   930 VES
HIGH$140   5,000 VES
Per Month

Other Expenses22%

22% of total expenses on average (16% to 28%)

LOW$73   2,600 VES
AVERAGE$220   7,900 VES
HIGH$1,200   42,000 VES
Per Month


Family
Average monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Caracas

Housing23%

23% of total expenses on average (18% to 33%)

LOW$190   6,900 VES
AVERAGE$550   20,000 VES
HIGH$3,000   110,000 VES
Per Month

Transport, Fuel4%

4% of total expenses on average (2% to 6%)

LOW$48   1,700 VES
AVERAGE$140   5,000 VES
HIGH$760   27,000 VES
Per Month

Food and Groceries22%

22% of total expenses on average (15% to 28%)

LOW$110   3,900 VES
AVERAGE$310   11,000 VES
HIGH$1,700   61,000 VES
Per Month

Healthcare12%

12% of total expenses on average (8% to 17%)

LOW$48   1,700 VES
AVERAGE$140   5,000 VES
HIGH$760   27,000 VES
Per Month

Leisure, Shopping1%

1% of total expenses on average (0.00% to 5%)

LOW$30   1,100 VES
AVERAGE$86   3,100 VES
HIGH$470   17,000 VES
Per Month

Education13%

13% of total expenses on average (6% to 21%)

LOW$84   3,000 VES
AVERAGE$240   8,700 VES
HIGH$1,300   48,000 VES
Per Month

Other Expenses17%

17% of total expenses on average (10% to 22%)

LOW$72   2,600 VES
AVERAGE$210   7,400 VES
HIGH$1,100   41,000 VES
Per Month


Student
Cost of living and expenses break down for students living in Caracas

Housing15%

15% of total expenses on average (10% to 21%)

LOW$47   1,700 VES
AVERAGE$120   4,300 VES
HIGH$210   7,700 VES
Per Month

Utilities, Electricity, Water8%

8% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)

LOW$7.9   280 VES
AVERAGE$20   710 VES
HIGH$36   1,300 VES
Per Month

Transport, Fuel3%

3% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)

LOW$14   500 VES
AVERAGE$35   1,200 VES
HIGH$62   2,200 VES
Per Month

Food and Groceries24%

24% of total expenses on average (18% to 28%)

LOW$40   1,400 VES
AVERAGE$99   3,600 VES
HIGH$180   6,400 VES
Per Month

Healthcare10%

10% of total expenses on average (7% to 13%)

LOW$12   430 VES
AVERAGE$30   1,100 VES
HIGH$53   1,900 VES
Per Month

Leisure, Shopping1%

1% of total expenses on average (1% to 5%)

LOW$9.9   360 VES
AVERAGE$25   890 VES
HIGH$44   1,600 VES
Per Month

Education18%

18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)

LOW$38   1,400 VES
AVERAGE$94   3,400 VES
HIGH$170   6,100 VES
Per Month

Other Expenses20%

20% of total expenses on average (14% to 26%)

LOW$30   1,100 VES
AVERAGE$74   2,700 VES
HIGH$130   4,800 VES
Per Month
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