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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,184 per month in Arima vs $1,295 in Chaguanas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,919 per month in Arima vs $2,037 in Chaguanas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,653 per month in Arima vs $2,779 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 12% lower, Chaguanas 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.96 TTD 60.0

$7.54 TTD 50.6

18.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.5 TTD 486

$90.4 TTD 606

-19.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 TTD 49.03

$7.33 TTD 49.08

-0.14%

Cappuccino

$2.42 TTD 16.24

$3.11 TTD 20.87

-22.19%

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

$0.96 TTD 6.46

$1.09 TTD 7.30

-11.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 TTD 4.73

$0.81 TTD 5.45

-12.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 TTD 10.99

$1.88 TTD 12.62

-12.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 TTD 19.38

$2.74 TTD 18.34

5.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 TTD 15.55

$2.58 TTD 17.30

-10.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 TTD 15.17

$2.29 TTD 15.37

-1.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 TTD 15.09

$2.63 TTD 17.59

-14.45%

Eggs

$4.24 TTD 28.37

$4.00 TTD 26.82

6.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.91 TTD 39.58

$7.97 TTD 53.4

-25.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 TTD 38.97

$8.98 TTD 60.2

-35.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.41 TTD 29.54

$12.60 TTD 84.4

-65.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 TTD 40.00

$4.71 TTD 31.58

26.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 TTD 13.63

$2.53 TTD 16.96

-19.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 TTD 28.53

$3.53 TTD 23.67

20.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.45 TTD 29.78

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 TTD 6.97

$1.48 TTD 9.88

-29.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 TTD 5.27

$1.67 TTD 11.22

-52.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 TTD 10.09

$1.50 TTD 10.03

0.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 TTD 8.06

$1.27 TTD 8.53

-5.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 TTD 28.97

$4.69 TTD 31.45

-7.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.50 TTD 124

$18.38 TTD 123

0.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 TTD 13.14

$2.19 TTD 14.69

-10.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 TTD 18.21

$2.82 TTD 18.90

-3.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 TTD 5.34

$1.24 TTD 8.28

-35.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 TTD 6.58

$1.01 TTD 6.73

-2.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 TTD 4.76

$1.06 TTD 7.10

-33.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.94 TTD 100

$15.02 TTD 101

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 TTD 6.20

$0.96 TTD 6.46

-3.12%

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

$26.8K TTD 179.7K

$32.7K TTD 219.3K

-18.03%

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

$27.6K TTD 185.1K

$36.3K TTD 243.2K

-23.91%

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

$81.4 TTD 545

$81.2 TTD 544

0.23%

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

$44.96 TTD 301

$46.40 TTD 311

-3.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.4 TTD 411

$51.6 TTD 346

18.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.83 TTD 327

$43.73 TTD 293

11.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.13 TTD 195

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 TTD 34.23

$8.94 TTD 59.9

-42.84%

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

$133 TTD 888

$321 TTD 2,148

-58.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,247 TTD 48.6K

$7,275 TTD 48.7K

-0.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 TTD 351

$55.8 TTD 374

-6.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.74 TTD 179

$38.61 TTD 259

-30.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 TTD 848

$135 TTD 906

-6.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 TTD 504

$117 TTD 781

-35.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 TTD 3,183

$430 TTD 2,884

10.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 TTD 2,376

$377 TTD 2,525

-5.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$856 TTD 5,736

$629 TTD 4,214

36.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 TTD 4,828

$539 TTD 3,608

33.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,183 TTD 7,926

$784 TTD 5,250

50.96%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chaguanas: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Arima versus $430 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 51% 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: $291 vs $339 – 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 $1,777 per month in Arima and $1,942 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 $1,184 in Arima and $1,295 in Chaguanas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $133 per month in Arima and $321 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 $1,184, than in Chaguanas at $1,295. 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.