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 $914 in St.James, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,909 per month in Arima vs $1,615 in St.James, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,664 per month in Arima vs $2,317 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

$8.78 TTD 59.0

$10.37 TTD 69.7

-15.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 TTD 502

$89.0 TTD 598

-16.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 TTD 51.1

$7.52 TTD 50.5

1.20%

Cappuccino

$2.36 TTD 15.84

$3.64 TTD 24.41

-35.16%

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

$1.01 TTD 6.78

$1.05 TTD 7.02

-3.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 TTD 4.72

$0.78 TTD 5.26

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 TTD 10.72

$1.81 TTD 12.13

-11.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 TTD 20.01

$3.17 TTD 21.30

-5.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 TTD 15.02

$2.69 TTD 18.06

-16.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 TTD 15.79

$2.81 TTD 18.85

-16.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 TTD 15.38

$2.62 TTD 17.59

-12.60%

Eggs

$4.28 TTD 28.71

$5.04 TTD 33.86

-15.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.14 TTD 41.23

$8.02 TTD 53.8

-23.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 TTD 38.87

$10.23 TTD 68.7

-43.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.24 TTD 28.49

$14.14 TTD 95.0

-70.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 TTD 38.40

$5.94 TTD 39.87

-3.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 TTD 13.64

$2.62 TTD 17.59

-22.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 TTD 29.03

$4.43 TTD 29.76

-2.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.38 TTD 29.44

$4.80 TTD 32.26

-8.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 TTD 6.70

$1.44 TTD 9.64

-30.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 TTD 5.53

$1.72 TTD 11.57

-52.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 TTD 9.69

$1.91 TTD 12.82

-24.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 TTD 8.04

$1.40 TTD 9.37

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 TTD 27.91

$5.85 TTD 39.31

-28.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.94 TTD 127

$19.42 TTD 130

-2.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 TTD 13.12

$2.20 TTD 14.77

-11.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 TTD 18.41

$2.72 TTD 18.28

0.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 TTD 5.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 TTD 6.73

$1.02 TTD 6.84

-1.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 TTD 4.83

$1.28 TTD 8.63

-43.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.52 TTD 97.5

$15.00 TTD 101

-3.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 TTD 6.80

$1.09 TTD 7.32

-7.34%

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

$26.8K TTD 180.0K

$34.0K TTD 228.3K

-21.15%

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

$27.2K TTD 182.9K

$38.6K TTD 259.4K

-29.50%

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

$81.5 TTD 547

$79.3 TTD 532

2.83%

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

$45.14 TTD 303

$46.15 TTD 310

-2.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 TTD 423

$62.4 TTD 419

0.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.29 TTD 324

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 TTD 34.23

$10.11 TTD 67.9

-49.55%

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

$134 TTD 901

$325 TTD 2,184

-58.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,162 TTD 48.1K

$7,329 TTD 49.2K

-2.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 TTD 352

$58.9 TTD 395

-10.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.95 TTD 181

$37.85 TTD 254

-28.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 TTD 839

$144 TTD 965

-13.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.6 TTD 494

$129 TTD 867

-42.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 TTD 3,237

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 TTD 2,392

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 TTD 5,637

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 TTD 4,799

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,190 TTD 7,993

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 26, 2026

Last update for St.James: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Arima versus $89.0 in St.James. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 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 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 $1,731 per month in Arima and $1,370 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 $914 in St.James. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $134 per month in Arima and $325 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 $914, 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.