Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and Tobago Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and Tobago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,163 per month in Arima vs $1,133 in Tobago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,925 per month in Arima vs $1,881 in Tobago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,687 per month in Arima vs $2,630 in Tobago, rent included.

Arima costs about 3% more than Tobago, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Arima and Tobago are more affordable than the global median – Arima 13% lower, Tobago 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.03 TTD 60.8

$8.95 TTD 60.3

0.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.7 TTD 490

$66.0 TTD 445

10.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 TTD 50.6

$7.19 TTD 48.48

4.31%

Cappuccino

$2.39 TTD 16.12

$3.68 TTD 24.78

-35.05%

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

$0.94 TTD 6.36

$0.95 TTD 6.42

-1.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 TTD 5.07

$0.81 TTD 5.49

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 TTD 10.70

$3.72 TTD 25.04

-57.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 TTD 20.51

$2.99 TTD 20.13

1.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 TTD 15.31

$2.36 TTD 15.89

-3.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 TTD 15.96

$2.31 TTD 15.56

2.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 TTD 15.29

$2.92 TTD 19.65

-22.26%

Eggs

$4.30 TTD 28.98

$4.54 TTD 30.61

-5.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.25 TTD 42.12

$7.23 TTD 48.71

-13.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TTD 39.27

$7.44 TTD 50.1

-21.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.33 TTD 29.17

$7.21 TTD 48.58

-39.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 TTD 38.18

$7.02 TTD 47.29

-19.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 TTD 13.94

$2.47 TTD 16.67

-16.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 TTD 29.45

$2.94 TTD 19.81

48.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 TTD 29.48

$3.00 TTD 20.25

45.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 TTD 6.73

$1.21 TTD 8.14

-17.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 TTD 5.65

$1.21 TTD 8.13

-30.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 TTD 9.83

$1.57 TTD 10.56

-7.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 TTD 7.72

$1.30 TTD 8.76

-12.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 TTD 28.92

$4.67 TTD 31.45

-8.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.35 TTD 130

$21.60 TTD 146

-10.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 TTD 12.75

$3.38 TTD 22.76

-44.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 TTD 18.95

$3.43 TTD 23.10

-18.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 TTD 5.31

$0.78 TTD 5.23

1.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 TTD 6.19

$0.72 TTD 4.82

27.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 TTD 4.89

$0.72 TTD 4.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.64 TTD 98.7

$15.48 TTD 104

-5.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 TTD 6.33

$1.02 TTD 6.88

-7.84%

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

$27.3K TTD 183.7K

$26.7K TTD 179.8K

2.15%

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

$27.7K TTD 186.4K

$39.7K TTD 267.6K

-30.36%

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

$81.5 TTD 549

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

$43.65 TTD 294

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.7 TTD 422

$58.3 TTD 393

7.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.80 TTD 322

$54.4 TTD 367

-12.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 TTD 97.9

Cinema Ticket

$5.19 TTD 34.98

$7.41 TTD 49.94

-29.96%

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

$131 TTD 881

$95.7 TTD 645

36.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,074 TTD 47.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 TTD 345

$50.7 TTD 342

0.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.01 TTD 182

$47.01 TTD 317

-42.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 TTD 859

$153 TTD 1,029

-16.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 TTD 505

$67.8 TTD 457

10.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 TTD 3,267

$403 TTD 2,714

20.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 TTD 2,389

$350 TTD 2,357

1.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 TTD 5,680

$800 TTD 5,395

5.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 TTD 4,763

$677 TTD 4,564

4.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,206 TTD 8,127

$733 TTD 4,943

64.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-57.14%

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

Last update for Arima: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tobago: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Arima versus $403 in Tobago. 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 64% higher in Arima, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Arima versus $66.0 in Tobago. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Arima vs $329 in Tobago – 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 Tobago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arima costs about 3% more than Tobago, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,699 in Tobago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tobago, 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 $1,133 in Tobago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $131 per month in Arima and $95.7 in Tobago. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tobago, where all-in costs run around $1,133, than in Arima at $1,163. In Tobago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tobago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tobago. 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.