Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and St.James Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and St.James

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,154 per month in Arima vs $918 in St.James, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,914 per month in Arima vs $1,641 in St.James, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,675 per month in Arima vs $2,363 in St.James, rent included.

Arima costs about 26% more than St.James, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arima and St.James are more affordable than the global median – Arima 13% lower, St.James 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.06 TTD 61.2

$10.22 TTD 69.0

-11.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.2 TTD 501

$89.3 TTD 603

-16.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 TTD 50.7

$7.40 TTD 50.0

1.35%

Cappuccino

$2.39 TTD 16.17

$3.63 TTD 24.51

-34.16%

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

$0.95 TTD 6.39

$1.05 TTD 7.08

-9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 TTD 4.77

$0.76 TTD 5.14

-6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 TTD 11.30

$1.90 TTD 12.82

-12.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 TTD 19.81

$3.06 TTD 20.70

-4.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 TTD 15.72

$2.77 TTD 18.68

-15.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 TTD 15.39

$2.74 TTD 18.49

-16.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 TTD 15.30

$2.60 TTD 17.55

-12.69%

Eggs

$4.29 TTD 28.96

$4.97 TTD 33.58

-13.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 TTD 40.78

$7.89 TTD 53.3

-23.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 TTD 38.47

$10.28 TTD 69.4

-44.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.40 TTD 29.72

$14.53 TTD 98.2

-69.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 TTD 39.14

$5.85 TTD 39.50

-1.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 TTD 13.27

$2.53 TTD 17.09

-22.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 TTD 28.89

$4.19 TTD 28.32

2.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 TTD 30.99

$4.63 TTD 31.25

-0.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 TTD 7.09

$1.42 TTD 9.57

-26.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TTD 5.23

$1.64 TTD 11.09

-53.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 TTD 9.86

$1.96 TTD 13.24

-25.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 TTD 7.88

$1.40 TTD 9.43

-16.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.24 TTD 28.61

$6.02 TTD 40.65

-29.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.93 TTD 128

$19.41 TTD 131

-2.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 TTD 13.13

$2.18 TTD 14.73

-11.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 TTD 18.28

$2.76 TTD 18.64

-1.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 TTD 5.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 TTD 6.39

$1.05 TTD 7.11

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 TTD 4.90

$1.27 TTD 8.60

-42.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.85 TTD 100

$14.62 TTD 98.7

1.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 TTD 6.38

$1.09 TTD 7.38

-13.76%

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

$27.6K TTD 186.7K

$33.9K TTD 228.7K

-18.36%

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

$26.9K TTD 181.6K

$39.0K TTD 263.2K

-30.99%

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

$80.7 TTD 545

$81.5 TTD 551

-1.04%

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

$43.65 TTD 295

$46.57 TTD 315

-6.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.5 TTD 416

$61.2 TTD 414

0.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.21 TTD 319

Cinema Ticket

$5.32 TTD 35.93

$10.10 TTD 68.2

-47.33%

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

$132 TTD 893

$334 TTD 2,255

-60.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,109 TTD 48.0K

$7,163 TTD 48.4K

-0.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 TTD 346

$60.3 TTD 407

-15.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.68 TTD 180

$37.76 TTD 255

-29.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 TTD 834

$145 TTD 982

-15.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 TTD 507

$126 TTD 849

-40.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 TTD 3,219

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 TTD 2,394

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$850 TTD 5,741

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$713 TTD 4,818

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,198 TTD 8,095

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for St.James: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Arima versus $89.0 in St.James. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $376 – 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 St.James: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arima costs about 26% more than St.James, 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 $1,730 per month in Arima and $1,377 in St.James. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,154 in Arima and $918 in St.James. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $132 per month in Arima and $334 in St.James. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in St.James, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Arima at $1,154. In St.James it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward St.James – 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 St.James. 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.