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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Arima vs $1,193 in Tobago, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,144 per month in Arima vs $1,838 in Tobago, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,002 per month in Arima vs $2,484 in Tobago, rent included.

Arima costs about 8% more than Tobago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arima and Tobago are more affordable than the global median – Arima 6% lower, Tobago 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.24 TTD 68.1

$10.17 TTD 67.7

0.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 TTD 495

$42.46 TTD 283

75.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.63 TTD 57.5

$9.58 TTD 63.7

-9.92%

Cappuccino

$3.77 TTD 25.08

$3.67 TTD 24.45

2.72%

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

$1.03 TTD 6.88

$1.63 TTD 10.88

-36.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 TTD 4.83

$1.63 TTD 10.88

-55.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 TTD 12.31

$3.77 TTD 25.12

-50.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 TTD 19.19

$4.39 TTD 29.19

-34.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 TTD 15.92

$2.50 TTD 16.66

-4.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 TTD 15.83

$2.49 TTD 16.55

-4.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 TTD 19.41

$2.30 TTD 15.29

26.96%

Eggs

$4.30 TTD 28.59

$4.85 TTD 32.30

-11.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.65 TTD 44.22

$6.20 TTD 41.26

7.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 TTD 44.34

$7.21 TTD 47.95

-7.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.91 TTD 59.3

$5.91 TTD 39.34

50.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 TTD 37.65

$4.01 TTD 26.66

41.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 TTD 15.28

$2.46 TTD 16.36

-6.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.70 TTD 24.62

$2.25 TTD 14.99

64.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 TTD 32.20

$2.26 TTD 15.03

114.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 TTD 8.86

$0.99 TTD 6.56

34.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 TTD 6.16

$1.65 TTD 11.00

-43.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 TTD 9.38

$1.81 TTD 12.05

-22.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TTD 6.47

$1.49 TTD 9.89

-34.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 TTD 32.18

$4.45 TTD 29.63

8.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.99 TTD 126

$21.66 TTD 144

-12.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 TTD 12.73

$3.77 TTD 25.06

-49.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 TTD 19.54

$4.40 TTD 29.31

-33.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 TTD 6.70

$0.76 TTD 5.03

32.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 TTD 4.72

$0.77 TTD 5.14

-7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 TTD 5.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.55 TTD 96.8

$9.07 TTD 60.4

60.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 TTD 7.50

$1.04 TTD 6.91

8.65%

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

$27.2K TTD 181.3K

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

$35.8K TTD 238.3K

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

$89.5 TTD 595

$59.9 TTD 399

49.25%

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

$45.03 TTD 300

$26.98 TTD 180

66.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.1 TTD 380

$74.0 TTD 493

-22.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 TTD 348

$51.2 TTD 341

2.29%

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 TTD 59.4

$7.89 TTD 52.5

13.18%

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

$176 TTD 1,169

$74.5 TTD 495

136.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K TTD 70.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 TTD 412

$43.59 TTD 290

42.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.37 TTD 295

$48.02 TTD 320

-7.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$148 TTD 982

$137 TTD 913

7.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.3 TTD 481

$89.9 TTD 599

-19.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 TTD 3,376

$399 TTD 2,656

27.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 TTD 2,412

$329 TTD 2,191

10.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,029 TTD 6,850

$550 TTD 3,662

87.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$869 TTD 5,783

$509 TTD 3,390

70.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 TTD 8,100

$746 TTD 4,963

63.21%

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 Tobago: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $507 in Arima versus $399 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 63% 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 $74.0 in Arima versus $42.00 in Tobago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $308 – making Tobago 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 Tobago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arima costs about 8% more than Tobago, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,789 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 $1,286 in Arima and $1,193 in Tobago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $176 per month in Arima and $74.5 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 $1,193, than in Arima at $1,286. 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.