---
title: "Living in Maracaibo as a digital nomad: cost, safety, visa, internet"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/maracaibo
description: "Venezuela's hot oil capital on Lake Maracaibo, with deep power problems"
dataset: 2026.11.2 (2026-11-09)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Maracaibo, Venezuela

Maracaibo scores 41.4/100 for digital nomads under balanced weights, ranking 1423 of 1501 cities. There is no open cost-of-living figure yet; expect no dedicated nomad visa, and a measured median download speed of 21.1 Mbps.

Maracaibo is Venezuela's second city and the historic centre of its oil industry, on the strait linking Lake Maracaibo to the Caribbean. It has a proud local culture of gaita music and a colourful old quarter, and the Catatumbo lightning over the south of the lake can be seen on tours. It is very hot, power and water cuts are frequent, internet is slow, and most governments advise against travel to Venezuela.

Known for: Lake Maracaibo and the Urdaneta Bridge, Gaita music, Catatumbo lightning, Power cuts and heat.

## Scores (balanced weights, 0–100)

| Factor | Score |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | 41.4 |
| Cost of living | — |
| Safety | 25 |
| Healthcare | 69 |
| Internet | 62 |
| Visa ease | 33 |
| Getting there & around | 1 |
| Climate | 25 |
| Air quality | 63 |
| Quality of life | 54 |

## The numbers behind the scores

| Metric | Value | Level | As of | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | — | country | 2026-09 | [^2] |
| Central 1-bedroom rent | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Outskirts 1-bedroom rent (basis of the monthly total) | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Homicide rate (per 100k) | 13.81 | country | 2023 | [^4] |
| Political stability (0–100) | 39.2 | country | 2025 | [^5] |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 75 | country | 2023 | [^6] |
| Life expectancy (years) | 72.2 | country | 2023 | [^7] |
| Median download (Mbps) | 21.1 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Median upload (Mbps) | 23.7 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Starlink residential service | Available | country | 2026-10 | [^9] |
| Nomad visa | none listed | country | 2026-07 | [^10] |
| Entry for US / EU / UK passports | visa required / 90 days / 90 days | country | 2026-02 | [^11] |
| Non-stop destinations (MAR) | 8 | city | 2014 | [^12] |
| Restaurants within 3 km of the centre (OpenStreetMap) | 0 | city | 2026-11 | [^16] |
| Walkability / transit (1–5) | 1 / 1 | editorial | 2026-09 | [^13] |
| Comfortable months | 3 of 12 | city | 2001–2020 | [^14] |
| Annual mean PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 21.5 | city | 2023 | [^15] |
| Human Development Index | 0.709 | country | 2023 | [^17] |
| English proficiency band | moderate | country | 2024 | [^18] |

## Tax on income from abroad

**Residents pay 6%–34% on worldwide income, and the 34% band starts at about US$290 a year.** After more than 183 days in Venezuela in a calendar year you are tax resident and owe income tax on worldwide income. The 6%–34% scale is set in tax units of Bs 43 each, so the 34% band starts at about US$290 of yearly income: nearly all foreign pay or investment income is taxed at 34%. Work done while in Venezuela is local income even on a short stay. Very large fortunes pay a wealth tax, and there is no nomad visa.

| Question | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| How residents are taxed | worldwide income |
| Remote work for foreign clients or employers | taxed (6%–34% progressive for residents (34% above about US$290 a year); 34% flat for non-residents) |
| Investments and pensions from abroad | taxed (6%–34% progressive (34% above about US$290 a year); 34% flat on foreign dividends) |
| Wealth | wealth tax; inheritance tax applies |
| Tax resident after | 183 days a year |
| Top income tax rate | 34% |

Residency: You are domiciled, which the law treats as resident, if you spend more than 183 days in Venezuela, continuous or not, in a calendar year, or did so in the previous calendar year (Código Orgánico Tributario, Art 30; Ley de Impuesto sobre la Renta, Art 51). You are also resident if you set up your residence or home in Venezuela, unless that year you spend more than 183 days in another country and prove tax residence there with a certificate from its authorities. Venezuelan nationals are presumed resident. A visitor who stays 183 days or fewer in a calendar year and keeps no home there is non-resident, but a long stay counts again the next year: more than 183 days in one year makes you resident for the following year too.

Remote work: Residents add foreign salary and freelance fees to the progressive scale (Tarifa N° 1, Art 50 of the income tax law, ISLR), which is set in tax units (unidades tributarias, UT). The UT has been Bs 43 since 2 June 2025, and at the Banco Central de Venezuela rate of Bs 888.12 per US dollar on 28 October 2026 the 34% band starts at 6,000 UT, about US$290 of net income a year. Foreign income is converted at the year's average exchange rate (Art 16). The standard deduction of 774 UT (Art 58) and the 10 UT personal rebate (Art 59) are now worth about US$37 and US$0.48. Residents must file a return once net income passes 1,000 UT or gross income 1,500 UT (Art 77), about US$48 and US$73. Income tax paid abroad on foreign-source income is credited up to the Venezuelan tax on it (Art 2), and tax treaty benefits apply only if you prove residence in the other country (Art 3). The catch for short stays: income from services provided by people domiciled, resident or merely passing through Venezuela is Venezuelan-source (Art 6), so pay for work done while you are physically there is taxable even before you become resident, at a flat 34% (Art 50), and a non-resident must file whatever the amount (Art 79). I found no official procedure for paying this on wages paid from abroad, and the SENIAT website could not be reached on 2026-10-28. Social security and municipal taxes on freelance activity are not covered here. Practical context: US sanctions on Venezuela remain in force, although OFAC eased parts of them with general licences during 2026, so check that your bank and payment provider will handle transfers.

Investments: Residents add foreign interest, rent and capital gains to the same progressive scale, which reaches 34% above 6,000 UT (about US$290) a year (Art 50). Dividends from foreign companies are kept out of that scale and pay a flat 34%, with credit for tax paid on them abroad (Art 66). Foreign losses can only offset foreign income (Art 4). Some income is exempt for everyone: retirement, old-age and disability pensions (Art 14.6), interest on deposits and savings instruments under Venezuelan banking law and returns on publicly offered mutual funds (Art 14.9), and Venezuelan government bonds (Art 14.12). The pension exemption does not say it is limited to Venezuelan pensions, but I found no official guidance on foreign pensions. Shares sold on a Venezuelan stock exchange pay 1% of the gross sale price instead (Art 74). Non-residents are taxed only on Venezuelan-source income (Art 1), so foreign investment income is untaxed until you become resident.

On the nomad visa: Venezuela has no digital nomad or remote-work visa. Whatever your visa, you become tax resident after more than 183 days in a calendar year and are then taxed on worldwide income. Before that, pay for work done while physically in Venezuela is Venezuelan-source under the income tax law and taxable at a flat 34% (see remote work).

Official sources: [Decreto N° 2.163, Ley de Impuesto sobre la Renta (full text), Gaceta Oficial Extraordinaria N° 6.210 of 30 December 2015](https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.ve/gacetas/6210) (Gaceta Oficial de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela (Servicio Autónomo Imprenta Nacional y Gaceta Oficial), read 2026-10-28); [Código Orgánico Tributario, Gaceta Oficial Extraordinaria N° 6.507 of 29 January 2020](https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.ve/gacetas/6507) (Gaceta Oficial de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela (Servicio Autónomo Imprenta Nacional y Gaceta Oficial), read 2026-10-28); [Providencia del SENIAT que reajusta la Unidad Tributaria de Bs. 9,00 a Bs. 43,00, Gaceta Oficial N° 43.140 of 2 June 2025](https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.ve/gacetas/43140) (Gaceta Oficial de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela (Servicio Autónomo Imprenta Nacional y Gaceta Oficial), read 2026-10-28); [Ley Constitucional que crea el Impuesto a los Grandes Patrimonios, Gaceta Oficial N° 41.667 of 3 July 2019](https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.ve/gacetas/41667) (Gaceta Oficial de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela (Servicio Autónomo Imprenta Nacional y Gaceta Oficial), read 2026-10-28); [Ley de Reforma del Decreto con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley que establece el Impuesto a las Grandes Transacciones Financieras, Gaceta Oficial Extraordinaria N° 6.687 of 25 February 2022](https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.ve/gacetas/6687) (Gaceta Oficial de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela (Servicio Autónomo Imprenta Nacional y Gaceta Oficial), read 2026-10-28); [Tipo de cambio oficial](https://www.bcv.org.ve/) (Banco Central de Venezuela, read 2026-10-28); [Venezuela-Related Sanctions](https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information/venezuela-related-sanctions) (Office of Foreign Assets Control, US Department of the Treasury, read 2026-10-28).

Not yet reviewed by a person. General information, not tax advice. US citizens are taxed by the US wherever they live.

## Climate (2001–2020 normals)

| Month | Mean °C | Rain mm | Humidity % | Comfortable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jan | 27.8 | 7 | 67 | yes |
| Feb | 28.3 | 5 | 63 | no |
| Mar | 28.9 | 21 | 63 | no |
| Apr | 29.4 | 44 | 65 | no |
| May | 29.6 | 100 | 69 | no |
| Jun | 30.1 | 58 | 67 | no |
| Jul | 30.3 | 43 | 65 | no |
| Aug | 30.4 | 60 | 66 | no |
| Sep | 29.7 | 89 | 71 | no |
| Oct | 28.6 | 134 | 77 | no |
| Nov | 27.9 | 83 | 78 | yes |
| Dec | 27.8 | 34 | 73 | yes |

## Airports and nonstop flights

| Airport | IATA | Nonstop destinations | International | From US airports |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| La Chinita International Airport | MAR | 8 | 4 | 1 |

Unique destinations across all airports: 8, of which 4 international (OpenFlights 2014 snapshot).

## Similar cities

- [La Ceiba](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/la-ceiba) (42.3) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/la-ceiba-vs-maracaibo)
- [San Pedro Sula](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/san-pedro-sula) (40.5) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/maracaibo-vs-san-pedro-sula)
- [Roatán](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/roatan) (44.5) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/maracaibo-vs-roatan)
- [Utila](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/utila) (45.4) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/maracaibo-vs-utila)
- [Managua](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/managua) (50.3) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/managua-vs-maracaibo)

## FAQ

### How much does it cost to live in Maracaibo as a digital nomad?

We do not have a reliable monthly cost figure for Maracaibo yet.

### Is Maracaibo safe for digital nomads?

Maracaibo scores 25/100 on safety. Venezuela records 13.81 homicides per 100,000 people per year (WHO, 2023) and a political-stability score of 39.2/100 (World Bank WGI). Both figures are national, so neighbourhood-level risk can differ.

### Does Venezuela have a digital nomad visa?

No dedicated digital nomad visa was listed for Venezuela as of 2026-07. Visitors from the US need a visa from a consulate.

### How fast is the internet in Maracaibo?

Measured median download speed in Maracaibo was 21.1 Mbps (upload 23.7 Mbps) across 18,420 M-Lab tests in 2024. Measured speeds run below advertised plan speeds everywhere, so compare cities rather than reading the number as a plan.

### Is Starlink available in Maracaibo?

Yes. Starlink's availability map lists residential service as available in Venezuela (checked 2026-10), so a dish can serve as a backup line in Maracaibo. Check the exact address on starlink.com before ordering, since capacity varies by area.

### Which airports serve Maracaibo and how many nonstop flights are there?

Maracaibo is served by La Chinita International Airport (MAR) with 8 nonstop destinations, of which 4 are international. 1 US airports have a nonstop link. Source: OpenFlights 2014 snapshot.

### When is the best time of year to be in Maracaibo?

The most comfortable months are Jan, Nov, Dec. Mean temperatures range from 82°F (28°C) in Jan to 87°F (30°C) in Aug (NASA POWER 2001–2020 climatology).

### Maracaibo or La Ceiba: which is better for digital nomads?

La Ceiba is the city with the closest factor profile to Maracaibo in this dataset. Which one wins depends on your weights; the comparison page puts every factor side by side with the numbers behind them.

## Plan a trip

[Plan a trip to Maracaibo](https://dashboard.navoy.io/trip/new?utm_source=nostos&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=plan_trip&utm_content=maracaibo&destination=Maracaibo%2C+Venezuela) on Navoy, the AI travel planner behind Nostos.

## Sources

[^1]: City population (latest census or official estimate), Wikipedia (citing national statistics offices). CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^2]: 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level), WhereNext. CC BY 4.0. https://getwherenext.com/data/cost-of-living-2026 (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^3]: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows), WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^4]: Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, dataUNODC. UNODC data, free to reuse with attribution. https://data.unodc.org/datareport/hom-victim (retrieved 2026-10-12)
[^5]: Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), World Bank. CC BY 4.0. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^6]: UHC service coverage index, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/uhc-index-of-service-coverage (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^7]: Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years) (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^8]: M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024), Measurement Lab. CC0 1.0. https://statistics.measurementlab.net/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^9]: Starlink availability map, SpaceX (Starlink). Factual status cited from starlink.com. https://www.starlink.com/map (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^10]: Digital Nomad Visas 2026, WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^11]: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), Ilya Ilyankou (compiled from passportindex.org). MIT. https://github.com/ilyankou/passport-index-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^12]: OpenFlights airports and routes, OpenFlights.org. ODbL 1.0. https://openflights.org/data (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^13]: Walkability and transit ratings (editorial), Navoy. CC BY 4.0. https://nostos.navoy.io/methodology (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^14]: NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means), NASA Langley Research Center. Public domain (US Government). https://power.larc.nasa.gov/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^15]: SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04), Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis. CC BY 4.0. https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/surface-pm2-5/ (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^16]: OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API), OpenStreetMap contributors. ODbL 1.0. https://overpass-api.de/ (retrieved 2026-10-02)
[^17]: Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), United Nations Development Programme. CC BY 3.0 IGO. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/documentation-and-downloads (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^18]: EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), EF Education First. Proprietary; band cited as a fact with attribution. https://www.ef.com/epi/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)

HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/maracaibo