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 $1,286 per month in Arima vs $1,613 in Port of Spain, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,144 per month in Arima vs $2,727 in Port of Spain, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,002 per month in Arima vs $3,841 in Port of Spain, rent included.

Arima is about 20% cheaper than Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Arima sits 6% below the global median, while Port of Spain is 17% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.24 TTD 68.1

$10.54 TTD 70.1

-2.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 TTD 495

$90.5 TTD 602

-17.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.63 TTD 57.5

$8.75 TTD 58.2

-1.37%

Cappuccino

$3.77 TTD 25.08

$3.80 TTD 25.29

-0.79%

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

$1.03 TTD 6.88

$1.05 TTD 6.99

-1.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 TTD 4.83

$0.71 TTD 4.71

2.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 TTD 12.31

$2.28 TTD 15.15

-18.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 TTD 19.19

$3.68 TTD 24.51

-21.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 TTD 15.92

$2.44 TTD 16.27

-2.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 TTD 15.83

$2.51 TTD 16.72

-5.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 TTD 19.41

$2.88 TTD 19.15

1.39%

Eggs

$4.30 TTD 28.59

$4.53 TTD 30.15

-5.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.65 TTD 44.22

$6.85 TTD 45.56

-2.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 TTD 44.34

$10.12 TTD 67.4

-34.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.91 TTD 59.3

$11.83 TTD 78.7

-24.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 TTD 37.65

$5.61 TTD 37.33

0.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 TTD 15.28

$3.02 TTD 20.11

-23.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.70 TTD 24.62

$3.79 TTD 25.24

-2.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 TTD 32.20

$4.27 TTD 28.41

13.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 TTD 8.86

$2.15 TTD 14.31

-38.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 TTD 6.16

$1.95 TTD 12.94

-52.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 TTD 9.38

$1.84 TTD 12.27

-23.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TTD 6.47

$1.42 TTD 9.42

-31.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 TTD 32.18

$6.06 TTD 40.30

-20.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.99 TTD 126

$18.94 TTD 126

0.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 TTD 12.73

$2.24 TTD 14.90

-14.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 TTD 19.54

$2.97 TTD 19.79

-1.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 TTD 6.70

$1.17 TTD 7.77

-13.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$136 TTD 902

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 TTD 4.72

$1.03 TTD 6.82

-31.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 TTD 5.02

$1.24 TTD 8.23

-39.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.55 TTD 96.8

$14.97 TTD 99.6

-2.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 TTD 7.50

$1.17 TTD 7.79

-3.42%

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

$27.2K TTD 181.3K

$37.4K TTD 248.8K

-27.13%

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

$35.8K TTD 238.3K

$41.7K TTD 277.6K

-14.15%

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

$89.5 TTD 595

$91.5 TTD 609

-2.25%

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

$45.03 TTD 300

$52.4 TTD 349

-14.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.1 TTD 380

$57.5 TTD 382

-0.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 TTD 348

$57.1 TTD 380

-8.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.12 TTD 87.3

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 TTD 59.4

$8.72 TTD 58.0

2.41%

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

$176 TTD 1,169

$399 TTD 2,655

-55.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K TTD 70.2K

$11.1K TTD 73.8K

-4.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 TTD 412

$54.8 TTD 364

13.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.37 TTD 295

$52.9 TTD 352

-16.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$148 TTD 982

$147 TTD 981

0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.3 TTD 481

$103 TTD 685

-29.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 TTD 3,376

$1,028 TTD 6,841

-50.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 TTD 2,412

$518 TTD 3,449

-30.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,029 TTD 6,850

$2,187 TTD 14.6K

-52.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$869 TTD 5,783

$1,195 TTD 7,949

-27.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,371 TTD 29.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,974 TTD 13.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 TTD 8,100

$776 TTD 5,165

56.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

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

Last update for Arima: September 1, 2026

Last update for Port of Spain: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $507 in Arima versus $1,028 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 $74.0 in Arima versus $90.0 in Port of Spain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $358 – 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 25% 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 $1,929 per month in Arima and $2,420 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 $1,286 in Arima and $1,613 in Port of Spain. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $176 per month in Arima and $399 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 $1,286, than in Port of Spain at $1,613. 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.