Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and Port of Spain Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and Port of Spain

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,163 per month in Arima vs $1,593 in Port of Spain, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,925 per month in Arima vs $2,747 in Port of Spain, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,687 per month in Arima vs $3,901 in Port of Spain, rent included.

Arima is about 27% cheaper than Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Arima sits 13% below the global median, while Port of Spain is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.03 TTD 60.8

$10.50 TTD 70.8

-14.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.7 TTD 490

$89.6 TTD 604

-18.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 TTD 50.6

$7.27 TTD 49.00

3.16%

Cappuccino

$2.39 TTD 16.12

$3.73 TTD 25.16

-35.92%

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

$0.94 TTD 6.36

$1.10 TTD 7.42

-14.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 TTD 5.07

$0.76 TTD 5.15

-1.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 TTD 10.70

$1.90 TTD 12.83

-16.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 TTD 20.51

$3.02 TTD 20.38

0.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 TTD 15.31

$2.71 TTD 18.28

-16.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 TTD 15.96

$2.82 TTD 19.02

-15.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 TTD 15.29

$2.61 TTD 17.61

-13.03%

Eggs

$4.30 TTD 28.98

$5.14 TTD 34.65

-16.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.25 TTD 42.12

$7.77 TTD 52.4

-19.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TTD 39.27

$10.60 TTD 71.5

-45.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.33 TTD 29.17

$14.37 TTD 96.9

-69.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 TTD 38.18

$5.79 TTD 39.05

-2.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 TTD 13.94

$2.54 TTD 17.09

-18.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 TTD 29.45

$4.24 TTD 28.60

3.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 TTD 29.48

$4.87 TTD 32.83

-10.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 TTD 6.73

$1.48 TTD 9.97

-32.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 TTD 5.65

$1.67 TTD 11.29

-49.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 TTD 9.83

$1.94 TTD 13.06

-24.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 TTD 7.72

$1.42 TTD 9.55

-19.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 TTD 28.92

$6.06 TTD 40.85

-29.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.35 TTD 130

$19.02 TTD 128

1.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 TTD 12.75

$2.22 TTD 14.95

-14.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 TTD 18.95

$2.73 TTD 18.43

2.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 TTD 5.31

$1.05 TTD 7.05

-24.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.0 TTD 667

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 TTD 6.19

$1.02 TTD 6.86

-9.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 TTD 4.89

$1.29 TTD 8.66

-44.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.64 TTD 98.7

$14.61 TTD 98.5

0.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 TTD 6.33

$1.14 TTD 7.67

-17.54%

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

$27.3K TTD 183.7K

$34.4K TTD 231.8K

-20.75%

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

$27.7K TTD 186.4K

$38.3K TTD 257.8K

-27.71%

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

$81.5 TTD 549

$79.6 TTD 537

2.36%

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

$43.65 TTD 294

$46.31 TTD 312

-5.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.7 TTD 422

$61.4 TTD 414

2.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.80 TTD 322

$54.2 TTD 365

-11.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.11 TTD 88.4

Cinema Ticket

$5.19 TTD 34.98

$10.23 TTD 69.0

-49.27%

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

$131 TTD 881

$330 TTD 2,225

-60.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,074 TTD 47.7K

$7,163 TTD 48.3K

-1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 TTD 345

$60.1 TTD 405

-14.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.01 TTD 182

$38.87 TTD 262

-30.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 TTD 859

$143 TTD 967

-11.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 TTD 505

$128 TTD 861

-41.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 TTD 3,267

$765 TTD 5,155

-36.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 TTD 2,389

$483 TTD 3,254

-26.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 TTD 5,680

$1,824 TTD 12.3K

-53.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 TTD 4,763

$1,285 TTD 8,664

-45.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,344 TTD 29.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,726 TTD 11.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,206 TTD 8,127

$770 TTD 5,188

56.64%

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 Port of Spain: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Arima versus $765 in Port of Spain. 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 57% 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 Port of Spain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $378 – 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 Port of Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port of Spain costs about 37% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,745 per month in Arima and $2,390 in Port of Spain. 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 $1,593 in Port of Spain. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $131 per month in Arima and $330 in Port of Spain. 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 Port of Spain at $1,593. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port of Spain 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.

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