Venezuela food basket costs $761 per month for a family of five

The cost of a monthly food basket for a family of five in Venezuela rose to $761.35 in September, according to a report by the Center for Documentation and Social Analysis of the Venezuelan Teachers Federation (Cendas-FVM). This represents a 0.79% increase compared to August.

The measurement includes 60 basic products. When including an estimated $13.49 for bottled drinking water, the total monthly subsistence budget rises to $774.84. Over the last 12 months, the cost of the basket has increased by 29.8% in dollars and 515.7% in bolívares.

There is a significant gap between food costs and formal income. With the minimum wage remaining unchanged since March 2022 at 130 bolívares (approximately $0.15), a worker can only cover 0.02% of the food basket, leaving a deficit of 99.98%. Cendas-FVM noted that 4,860 monthly salaries are required to subsist.

While the government provides bonuses totaling approximately $240, these do not count toward official labor benefits. Labor unions and NGOs continue to protest, demanding a minimum wage increase and the restoration of labor rights.