Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and Chaguanas Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and Chaguanas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Arima vs $1,318 in Chaguanas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,144 per month in Arima vs $2,083 in Chaguanas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,002 per month in Arima vs $2,847 in Chaguanas, rent included.

Arima is about 2% cheaper than Chaguanas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arima and Chaguanas are more affordable than the global median – Arima 6% lower, Chaguanas 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.24 TTD 68.1

$10.33 TTD 68.8

-0.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 TTD 495

$59.0 TTD 392

26.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.63 TTD 57.5

$8.12 TTD 54.1

6.28%

Cappuccino

$3.77 TTD 25.08

$3.23 TTD 21.46

16.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 TTD 6.88

$1.32 TTD 8.76

-21.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 TTD 4.83

$0.99 TTD 6.56

-26.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 TTD 12.31

$1.83 TTD 12.20

1.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 TTD 19.19

$2.55 TTD 16.98

12.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 TTD 15.92

$2.50 TTD 16.64

-4.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 TTD 15.83

$2.26 TTD 15.03

5.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 TTD 19.41

$2.19 TTD 14.61

33.33%

Eggs

$4.30 TTD 28.59

$3.90 TTD 25.94

10.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.65 TTD 44.22

$7.42 TTD 49.37

-10.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 TTD 44.34

$7.96 TTD 53.0

-16.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.91 TTD 59.3

$11.79 TTD 78.5

-24.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 TTD 37.65

$2.95 TTD 19.61

91.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 TTD 15.28

$3.06 TTD 20.39

-24.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.70 TTD 24.62

$3.05 TTD 20.31

21.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 TTD 32.20

$5.27 TTD 35.06

-8.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 TTD 8.86

$2.48 TTD 16.49

-46.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 TTD 6.16

$2.17 TTD 14.42

-57.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 TTD 9.38

$1.93 TTD 12.85

-26.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TTD 6.47

$1.32 TTD 8.81

-26.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 TTD 32.18

$3.00 TTD 19.97

61.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.99 TTD 126

$20.38 TTD 136

-6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 TTD 12.73

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 TTD 19.54

$2.55 TTD 16.98

15.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 TTD 6.70

$0.72 TTD 4.76

40.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 TTD 4.72

$2.22 TTD 14.77

-68.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 TTD 5.02

$1.36 TTD 9.07

-44.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.55 TTD 96.8

$15.03 TTD 100.0

-3.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 TTD 7.50

$1.18 TTD 7.85

-4.24%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K TTD 181.3K

$34.1K TTD 226.7K

-20.00%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.8K TTD 238.3K

$34.0K TTD 226.2K

5.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$89.5 TTD 595

$102 TTD 680

-12.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$45.03 TTD 300

$39.11 TTD 260

15.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.1 TTD 380

$52.5 TTD 349

8.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 TTD 348

$52.7 TTD 351

-0.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.39 TTD 295

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 TTD 59.4

$8.89 TTD 59.2

0.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$176 TTD 1,169

$307 TTD 2,042

-42.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K TTD 70.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 TTD 412

$47.37 TTD 315

30.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.37 TTD 295

$42.59 TTD 283

4.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$148 TTD 982

$103 TTD 687

42.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.3 TTD 481

$111 TTD 739

-34.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 TTD 3,376

$468 TTD 3,112

8.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 TTD 2,412

$376 TTD 2,503

-3.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,029 TTD 6,850

$969 TTD 6,445

6.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$869 TTD 5,783

$767 TTD 5,105

13.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 TTD 8,100

$792 TTD 5,272

53.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

15.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arima: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chaguanas: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $507 in Arima versus $468 in Chaguanas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 54% higher in Arima, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Arima versus $59.0 in Chaguanas. Groceries tell a different story – $314 in Arima vs $332 in Chaguanas – so Arima wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arima vs Chaguanas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chaguanas costs about 2% more than Arima, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Arima and $1,977 in Chaguanas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,286 in Arima and $1,318 in Chaguanas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $176 per month in Arima and $307 in Chaguanas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arima, where all-in costs run around $1,286, than in Chaguanas at $1,318. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chaguanas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arima – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Arima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chaguanas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.