🙂A single person spends $1,258 per month in Arima vs $1,365 in Diego Martin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,135 per month in Arima vs $2,323 in Diego Martin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,012 per month in Arima vs $3,282 in Diego Martin, rent included.
🙂Arima is about 8% cheaper than Diego Martin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Arima and Diego Martin are more affordable than the global median – Arima9% lower, Diego Martin1% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arima
Diego Martin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.23TTD 69.0
$10.14TTD 68.4
0.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7TTD 504
$90.2TTD 608
-17.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.92TTD 60.1
$8.91TTD 60.1
0.11%
Cappuccino
$3.66TTD 24.66
$3.81TTD 25.67
-3.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04TTD 6.98
$1.17TTD 7.86
-11.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71TTD 4.80
$0.73TTD 4.90
-2.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85TTD 12.48
$2.24TTD 15.07
-17.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99TTD 20.16
$2.87TTD 19.32
4.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arima
Diego Martin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45TTD 16.52
$2.47TTD 16.66
-0.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40TTD 16.20
$2.33TTD 15.68
3.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.78TTD 18.72
$2.94TTD 19.79
-5.44%
Eggs
$4.37TTD 29.47
$4.26TTD 28.73
2.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.80TTD 45.85
$6.69TTD 45.10
1.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.35TTD 42.78
$10.26TTD 69.2
-38.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.70TTD 58.7
$9.05TTD 61.0
-3.87%
Apples(1kg)
$5.53TTD 37.30
$5.39TTD 36.35
2.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20TTD 14.85
$2.44TTD 16.45
-9.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72TTD 25.07
$3.60TTD 24.29
3.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.03TTD 33.89
$4.26TTD 28.74
18.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34TTD 9.01
$0.77TTD 5.16
74.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96TTD 6.46
$0.77TTD 5.16
24.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34TTD 9.05
$1.44TTD 9.69
-6.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91TTD 6.15
$1.21TTD 8.13
-24.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.78TTD 32.22
$5.57TTD 37.54
-14.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79TTD 127
$17.70TTD 119
6.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84TTD 12.39
$1.50TTD 10.10
22.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99TTD 20.19
$2.99TTD 20.15
-
🚌 Getting Around
Arima
Diego Martin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02TTD 6.85
$0.87TTD 5.83
17.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$72.4TTD 488
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70TTD 4.75
$1.00TTD 6.76
-30.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75TTD 5.09
$0.84TTD 5.69
-10.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.47TTD 97.5
$14.65TTD 98.8
-1.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16TTD 7.80
$1.17TTD 7.89
-0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KTTD 186.9K
$15.0KTTD 101.1K
84.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3KTTD 244.7K
$41.2KTTD 277.8K
-11.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arima
Diego Martin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.2TTD 622
$45.02TTD 304
104.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.61TTD 301
$41.64TTD 281
7.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.0TTD 377
$44.93TTD 303
24.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arima
Diego Martin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.3TTD 346
$44.34TTD 299
15.76%
Cinema Ticket
$8.81TTD 59.4
$8.87TTD 59.8
-0.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arima
Diego Martin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$174TTD 1,176
$396TTD 2,667
-55.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KTTD 74.2K
$10.8KTTD 72.5K
2.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arima
Diego Martin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8TTD 424
$53.9TTD 363
16.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.36TTD 299
$36.95TTD 249
20.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$144TTD 970
$88.0TTD 593
63.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.0TTD 506
$89.2TTD 602
-15.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arima
Diego Martin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$526TTD 3,543
$665TTD 4,484
-20.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369TTD 2,488
$440TTD 2,969
-16.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,046TTD 7,055
$1,461TTD 9,852
-28.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$889TTD 5,995
$954TTD 6,433
-6.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arima
Diego Martin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,187TTD 8,000
$1,802TTD 12.1K
-34.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.75
5.75
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arima: September 6, 2026
Last update for Diego Martin: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $526 in Arima versus $665 in Diego Martin. 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 Diego Martin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Arima versus $90.0 in Diego Martin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 vs $326 – 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 Diego Martin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Arima or Diego Martin?
Diego Martin costs about 9% more than Arima, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Arima and in Diego Martin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,886 per month in Arima and $2,047 in Diego Martin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Arima or Diego Martin?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Arima compared to Diego Martin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,258 in Arima and $1,365 in Diego Martin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Arima and in Diego Martin?
Kindergarten costs $174 per month in Arima and $396 in Diego Martin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Arima or in Diego Martin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arima, where all-in costs run around $1,258, than in Diego Martin at $1,365. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Diego Martin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Arima compared to Diego Martin?
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.
Should I move to Arima or to Diego Martin?
If budget matters most, go with Arima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Diego Martin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.