Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and San Juan Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and San Juan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,258 per month in Arima vs $760 in San Juan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,135 per month in Arima vs $1,320 in San Juan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,012 per month in Arima vs $1,880 in San Juan, rent included.

Arima costs about 66% more than San Juan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Arima and San Juan are more affordable than the global median – Arima 9% lower, San Juan 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.23 TTD 69.0

$10.41 TTD 70.2

-1.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 TTD 504

$58.1 TTD 392

28.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.92 TTD 60.1

$7.87 TTD 53.1

13.34%

Cappuccino

$3.66 TTD 24.66

$3.63 TTD 24.49

0.83%

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

$1.04 TTD 6.98

$1.15 TTD 7.77

-9.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 TTD 4.80

$0.76 TTD 5.12

-6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 TTD 12.48

$2.26 TTD 15.22

-18.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 TTD 20.16

$3.00 TTD 20.21

-0.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.45 TTD 16.52

$2.00 TTD 13.46

22.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 TTD 16.20

$2.29 TTD 15.45

4.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 TTD 18.72

$2.88 TTD 19.40

-3.47%

Eggs

$4.37 TTD 29.47

$3.78 TTD 25.47

15.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.80 TTD 45.85

$6.80 TTD 45.87

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 TTD 42.78

$9.90 TTD 66.7

-35.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 TTD 58.7

$8.68 TTD 58.5

0.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.53 TTD 37.30

$5.36 TTD 36.14

3.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 TTD 14.85

$2.55 TTD 17.19

-13.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.72 TTD 25.07

$3.76 TTD 25.36

-1.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 TTD 33.89

$4.32 TTD 29.15

16.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 TTD 9.01

$0.76 TTD 5.11

76.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 TTD 6.46

$0.71 TTD 4.82

35.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 TTD 9.05

$1.44 TTD 9.74

-6.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 TTD 6.15

$1.21 TTD 8.14

-24.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.78 TTD 32.22

$5.63 TTD 37.94

-15.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 TTD 127

$17.60 TTD 119

6.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 TTD 12.39

$1.56 TTD 10.54

17.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 TTD 20.19

$3.04 TTD 20.50

-1.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 TTD 6.85

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 TTD 4.75

$0.86 TTD 5.77

-18.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 TTD 5.09

$0.90 TTD 6.08

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.47 TTD 97.5

$14.83 TTD 100.0

-2.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TTD 7.80

$1.11 TTD 7.48

4.50%

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

$27.7K TTD 186.9K

$36.2K TTD 244.0K

-23.39%

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

$36.3K TTD 244.7K

$41.2K TTD 277.7K

-11.88%

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

$92.2 TTD 622

$43.95 TTD 296

109.85%

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

$44.61 TTD 301

$42.65 TTD 288

4.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.0 TTD 377

$46.19 TTD 311

21.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.3 TTD 346

Cinema Ticket

$8.81 TTD 59.4

$9.05 TTD 61.0

-2.65%

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

$174 TTD 1,176

$393 TTD 2,647

-55.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K TTD 74.2K

$10.9K TTD 73.4K

1.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 TTD 424

$55.1 TTD 371

14.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.36 TTD 299

$37.08 TTD 250

19.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$144 TTD 970

$87.6 TTD 591

64.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 TTD 506

$87.8 TTD 592

-14.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 TTD 3,543

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 TTD 2,488

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 TTD 7,055

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$889 TTD 5,995

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,187 TTD 8,000

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 6, 2026

Last update for San Juan: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Arima versus $58.0 in San Juan. Groceries tell a different story – $311 in Arima vs $317 in San Juan – so Arima wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 San Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arima costs about 66% more than San Juan, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,886 per month in Arima and $1,139 in San Juan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,258 in Arima and $760 in San Juan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $174 per month in Arima and $393 in San Juan. 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 San Juan, where all-in costs run around $760, than in Arima at $1,258. In San Juan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Juan – 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 San Juan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arima makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.