Hello, friends in this community! Today, we’re going to look at the prices of the basic household appliances that any Venezuelan would want to have in a well-equipped home. To be honest, it was a bit difficult to take photos; here in Venezuela, it can be complicated—stores, shopping malls, and similar places are often quite strict, saying things like "don't do that" or "that's prohibited." It’s not everywhere, but it does happen in some places.

I’m going to show you the prices for washing machines, stoves, refrigerators, air conditioners—everything a person needs to fully equip their home. Depending on where you go, there’s a wide variety of appliances, brands, price points, and quality levels. I’ll compare all of these to determine exactly how much is needed to completely furnish a home with appliances.

The store is DAKA—a nationwide retailer and a leader in technology products, household goods, and appliances. For my city, which is quite small, the store was large and well-stocked. Upon arrival, we took a quick look around, but we immediately started checking prices—I was nervous about whether I’d be allowed to take photos.

We offer air conditioning units—specifically split-system units—with prices starting at $238 (4958 steemt) and $344 (7167 steemt) , including well-known brands like LG; we even have this one here for $320 (6666 steemt) . Let’s imagine you’re outfitting a home with air conditioning, a stove, a washing machine, a refrigerator, a television—basically, all the essentials for a household. For instance, if you’re looking for something compact, there are window air conditioning units—for example, a 12,000 BTU model for $215 (4458 steemt) .

A 14-cubic-foot refrigerator costs $606 (12625 steemt) , and a two-door model is $1,044 (21750 steemt) ; the store has a wide variety of refrigerators—quite a lot, actually. There are brands like LG, but in my region, the most common ones seem to be LG, Daewoo, and Hyundai.

We found a Sony soundbar for $384 (8000 steemt) —perfect for those who appreciate good sound.

A fairly large 65-inch television for $629 (13104 steemt) .

We ended up buying this split-system air conditioner, which cost a little over $400 (8333 steemt) . My brother also bought a shelf for a television, paying for it using Cachea—a credit-based app that’s currently being used here in Venezuela.

As for the shelf I mentioned, we struggled to get it into the car; it turned out to be impossible, so we ultimately had to have it delivered by a transport service to get it home.

As for the shelf I mentioned, we struggled to get it into the car; it turned out to be impossible, so we ultimately had to have it delivered by a transport service to get it home. Once home, I began reflecting and set out to calculate how much it would cost Venezuelans to equip their homes with the essentials. I drew up two estimates: one for a budget-friendly option and another for a higher-end setup featuring better-quality products. For the budget-friendly option, I estimate that one would need to have between $2,500 (5203 steemt) and $3,000 (62500 steemt) on hand to acquire basic household necessities—such as a refrigerator, a blender, a washing machine, a stove, and a television—including smaller-sized versions of these appliances.

Obviously, as Venezuelans, we earn a minimum wage of approximately $300 a month, yet food is extremely expensive; consequently, owning a household appliance is no longer a necessity, but a luxury. Having a more expensive refrigerator or a larger air conditioner would certainly be a luxury.