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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,163 per month in Arima vs $1,273 in Chaguanas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,925 per month in Arima vs $2,058 in Chaguanas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,687 per month in Arima vs $2,843 in Chaguanas, rent included.

Arima is about 9% cheaper than Chaguanas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arima and Chaguanas are more affordable than the global median – Arima 13% lower, Chaguanas 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.03 TTD 60.7

$7.29 TTD 49.01

23.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.7 TTD 489

$90.1 TTD 606

-19.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 TTD 50.5

$7.61 TTD 51.2

-1.45%

Cappuccino

$2.39 TTD 16.09

$3.02 TTD 20.33

-20.86%

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

$0.94 TTD 6.34

$1.05 TTD 7.04

-10.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 TTD 5.06

$0.82 TTD 5.52

-8.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 TTD 10.67

$1.83 TTD 12.31

-13.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 TTD 20.46

$2.60 TTD 17.49

16.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 TTD 15.27

$2.55 TTD 17.14

-10.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 TTD 15.92

$2.18 TTD 14.68

8.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 TTD 15.25

$2.68 TTD 18.05

-15.30%

Eggs

$4.30 TTD 28.92

$4.18 TTD 28.14

2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.25 TTD 42.03

$7.79 TTD 52.4

-19.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TTD 39.19

$9.38 TTD 63.1

-37.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.33 TTD 29.11

$12.25 TTD 82.4

-64.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 TTD 38.10

$4.55 TTD 30.63

24.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 TTD 13.91

$2.53 TTD 17.00

-18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 TTD 29.38

$3.51 TTD 23.60

24.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 TTD 29.41

$4.42 TTD 29.70

-1.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 TTD 6.72

$1.43 TTD 9.64

-30.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 TTD 5.64

$1.66 TTD 11.20

-49.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 TTD 9.81

$1.49 TTD 10.05

-2.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 TTD 7.70

$1.24 TTD 8.31

-8.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 TTD 28.86

$4.53 TTD 30.45

-5.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.35 TTD 130

$19.45 TTD 131

-0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 TTD 12.72

$2.20 TTD 14.80

-14.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 TTD 18.91

$2.70 TTD 18.15

4.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 TTD 5.30

$1.24 TTD 8.31

-36.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 TTD 6.18

$1.01 TTD 6.78

-8.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 TTD 4.88

$1.08 TTD 7.27

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.64 TTD 98.5

$15.01 TTD 101

-2.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 TTD 6.31

$0.92 TTD 6.22

2.17%

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

$27.3K TTD 183.3K

$33.3K TTD 223.8K

-18.09%

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

$27.7K TTD 186.0K

$36.5K TTD 245.2K

-24.15%

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

$81.5 TTD 548

$81.3 TTD 546

0.31%

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

$43.65 TTD 294

$47.00 TTD 316

-7.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.7 TTD 422

$52.0 TTD 350

20.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.80 TTD 321

$44.04 TTD 296

8.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.05 TTD 202

Cinema Ticket

$5.19 TTD 34.91

$9.08 TTD 61.1

-42.84%

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

$131 TTD 879

$315 TTD 2,121

-58.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,074 TTD 47.6K

$7,077 TTD 47.6K

-0.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 TTD 344

$54.8 TTD 368

-6.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.01 TTD 182

$39.18 TTD 264

-31.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 TTD 857

$135 TTD 908

-5.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 TTD 504

$119 TTD 801

-37.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 TTD 3,260

$435 TTD 2,923

11.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 TTD 2,384

$383 TTD 2,579

-7.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 TTD 5,668

$618 TTD 4,159

36.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 TTD 4,753

$533 TTD 3,583

32.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,206 TTD 8,109

$792 TTD 5,324

52.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

-44.24%

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

Last update for Arima: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chaguanas: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Arima versus $435 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 52% 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 $73.0 in Arima versus $90.0 in Chaguanas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $340 – making Arima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 9% 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 $1,745 per month in Arima and $1,909 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 $1,163 in Arima and $1,273 in Chaguanas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $131 per month in Arima and $315 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 $1,163, than in Chaguanas at $1,273. 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.