South America
Venezuela
Venezuela has remarkable geography, including Angel Falls, the Caribbean cays of Los Roques and a range from the Andes to the Amazon, but a prolonged economic and political crisis has made it a place most governments advise against visiting. Violent crime, including kidnapping, is very high, particularly in Caracas, and blackouts and infrastructure failures are frequent. The economy runs informally on US dollar cash, and the local currency loses value quickly, so do not hold more of it than you need. Website and VPN blocking limit access to common online services. For nearly all travellers this is not viable as a destination or a base until conditions stabilise.
Nomad quick facts
$1400/mo
$2240/mo
114.2 Mbps
2.516 (#160 of 190)
Moderate
Dec–Apr
Not available
61.8 / 100
Score breakdown
Spectacular natural scenery, warm climate, very low prices in US dollar terms.
Economic and political collapse, very high violent crime, frequent blackouts, official travel warnings, restricted internet access.
Cost of living in Venezuela
Venezuela can be inexpensive by international standards, but inflation, currency fluctuations and economic instability make prices difficult to predict. Caracas offers the widest range of accommodation, services and amenities, with costs varying significantly by neighborhood and quality. For visitors, the practical budget depends as much on currency and payment conditions as on the country's underlying low prices.
Estimated monthly cost
Single
$1,400/mo
Couple
$2,240/mo
Cost score inputs
Livingcost
88/100
Limited data — cost score is based on livingcost data alone; World Bank price-level data isn't available for this country.
Score blends a nomad-realistic monthly cost estimate (built from livingcost.org data, adjusted for short-term nomad spending like furnished housing, coworking, and eating out) with the World Bank's Household Consumption Price Level Index, a broader cross-country cost benchmark. Countries without World Bank price-level data are scored on the livingcost estimate alone. Prices displayed in USD.
The nomad cost estimate reflects a realistic single/couple monthly budget, not a bare local cost of living — actual spending still varies with lifestyle and location within a country.
Sources: livingcost.org · World Bank Household Consumption Price Level Index · Independent nomad cost estimates
Internet in Venezuela
Venezuela has strong download and upload capacity with moderate latency, making normal remote work feasible, but website and VPN blocking can limit access to some services nomads commonly rely on.
Download speed
114.2 Mbps
Upload speed
102.4 Mbps
Latency
67.6 ms
Blends download speed (Ookla Speedtest Global Index) with upload speed and latency (Cloudflare Radar). Speeds are scored between 10 Mbps (0) and 200 Mbps (100); latency counts the opposite way — lower is better. A missing metric doesn't penalize a country, it's scored on whatever data is available.
A national average — city and neighbourhood speeds vary, especially outside major hubs.
Get an eSIM for arrival →Sources: Ookla Speedtest Global Index · Cloudflare Radar
Safety in Venezuela
Venezuela is currently not a realistic base for nomads: the country's ongoing economic and political crisis has driven high rates of violent crime, including kidnapping, particularly in Caracas, and most Western governments advise against travel there.
Global safety rank
#160 of 190
Peace Index score
2.516 (lower = safer)
WJP Rule of Law rank
#129 of 143
WJP Rule of Law score
0.53 (higher = safer)
Gallup Law & Order rank
#84 of 119
Gallup Law & Order score
71 (higher = safer)
Blends three published safety indices: the Global Peace Index, the WJP Rule of Law Index (Order & Security factor), and the Gallup Global Law and Order Index. Places the Global Peace Index doesn't cover use our own estimate, based on regional peers and crime data. Each is rescaled 0-100 and combined with weights favoring GPI and Gallup slightly over WJP. Not every country is tracked by all three — the blend adjusts to whichever are available (weights are renormalized) rather than penalizing a country for a missing source, though a country tracked by fewer sources carries lower confidence.
As this is national average data, be aware that safety varies significantly by city and region within a country.
Get nomad insurance →Sources: Global Peace Index (Institute for Economics & Peace) · WJP Rule of Law Index (World Justice Project) · Gallup Global Law and Order Index
Tourism & infrastructure in Venezuela
Angel Falls, the world's tallest waterfall, and the Caribbean cays of Los Roques hint at spectacular natural beauty, but Venezuela's prolonged economic and political collapse has made it broadly unsafe and impractical to visit. This isn't currently a viable destination or nomad base for most travelers.
Happiness rank
#80 of 147
Quality of life rank
#86 of 89
Tourism development rank
#107 of 119 (2024 score; not in the 2026 edition)
Within-city transit
Moderate
Between-city transit
Limited
Tropical, varying by altitude; warm year-round with a wet season May–Nov.
Best months: Dec–Apr
Venezuela's transit has been degraded by years of economic crisis. Caracas has a metro that was once modern but now suffers from underinvestment and unreliability, supplemented by buses and informal 'por puesto' shared cars. Intercity travel uses aging buses amid fuel shortages, and there is little functioning rail. Safety concerns heavily shape movement; city centres are walkable but caution is essential.
A weighted blend of published indices: the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index (weighted highest — the strongest predictor of appeal), Numbeo's Quality of Life Index, the World Happiness Report, Gallup's day-to-day enjoyment data, the EF English Proficiency Index, and a public transit assessment covering both within-city and between-city transport. Not every country is scored on all six — the blend adjusts to whichever are available rather than penalizing a country for a missing one.
Sources: WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index · Numbeo Quality of Life Index · World Happiness Report · Gallup · EF English Proficiency Index · Public transit assessment
Venezuela visa and entry rules for digital nomads
Tourist entry — USA passport
Visa required — 90 days
Tourism Visa Note
Given the ongoing US-Venezuela diplomatic and sanctions situation, visa processing, embassy operations, and entry conditions for Venezuela are volatile and may differ meaningfully from standard visa-required processes. Recommend checking current government travel advisories (not just visa mechanics) before travel.
Working remotely in Venezuela on tourist entry
Visits related to work of any nature, paid or unpaid, require a visa obtained in advance, according to UK government travel advice. Remote work for a foreign employer is not addressed. Source
Staying longer
An extension of up to 90 days can be requested before the tourist card and entry stamp expire. Source
Digital nomad visa
No dedicated digital-nomad route
Visa and entry requirements can change. Check the latest information from official government sources before travelling; eligibility, documents and permitted activities depend on your nationality and personal circumstances.
Tax & residency in Venezuela
Tax-residency timing
More than 183 days in a fiscal year or the preceding year; a home may also establish residence
How the day count works
Presence is aggregated in the fiscal year, with a lookback to the preceding year; the Organic Tax Code also considers a Venezuelan home.
Other residency triggers
Establishing a home may establish residence; Venezuelan citizens are presumed domiciled unless they prove otherwise.
Remote work before residence
May be taxable. Remuneration for services performed in Venezuela is generally Venezuelan-source and may be taxed before residence, regardless of where it is paid.
If you become tax resident
Residents are generally taxed on worldwide income; nonresidents on Venezuelan-source income, subject to treaty relief and statutory rules.
What this usually means for nomads
More than 183 days in a fiscal year or the preceding year, or establishing a home, can create residence. Services performed in Venezuela may be taxable before residence. A home, local work or Venezuelan citizenship can increase exposure; treaty and residence evidence may matter.
Tax rules can change and depend on your residency status, income structure, time spent in the country and applicable tax treaties. This information is general only and is not financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional before relying on it.
Top cities for nomads in Venezuela
Caracas is the capital and among the most dangerous cities in the region. Mérida is an Andean university city that is comparatively calmer, and Canaima National Park, home to Angel Falls, is remote and hard to reach.
Capital & largest; a dramatic valley city beneath Ávila mountain; cultural energy but among the world's least safe cities.
Andean university city with a famous cable car & adventure sports; cooler, greener and comparatively relaxed.
Caribbean resort island of beaches & duty-free shopping; the main domestic getaway.
Remote national park of tepui table-mountains and Angel Falls, the world's tallest waterfall.
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