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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,184 per month in Arima vs $1,115 in Tobago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,919 per month in Arima vs $1,875 in Tobago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,653 per month in Arima vs $2,634 in Tobago, rent included.

Arima costs about 6% more than Tobago, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Arima and Tobago are more affordable than the global median – Arima 12% lower, Tobago 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.96 TTD 60.0

$8.99 TTD 60.2

-0.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.5 TTD 486

$65.6 TTD 439

10.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 TTD 49.03

$7.23 TTD 48.47

1.24%

Cappuccino

$2.42 TTD 16.24

$3.63 TTD 24.32

-33.33%

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

$0.96 TTD 6.46

$0.92 TTD 6.13

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 TTD 4.73

$0.81 TTD 5.42

-12.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 TTD 10.99

$3.67 TTD 24.58

-55.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 TTD 19.38

$2.88 TTD 19.30

0.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 TTD 15.55

$2.26 TTD 15.15

2.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 TTD 15.17

$2.30 TTD 15.42

-1.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 TTD 15.09

$2.90 TTD 19.46

-22.41%

Eggs

$4.24 TTD 28.37

$4.48 TTD 30.01

-5.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.91 TTD 39.58

$7.28 TTD 48.75

-18.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 TTD 38.97

$7.35 TTD 49.25

-20.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.41 TTD 29.54

$7.46 TTD 49.98

-40.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 TTD 40.00

$6.97 TTD 46.69

-14.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 TTD 13.63

$2.36 TTD 15.83

-13.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 TTD 28.53

$2.92 TTD 19.58

45.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.45 TTD 29.78

$2.90 TTD 19.41

53.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 TTD 6.97

$1.21 TTD 8.11

-14.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 TTD 5.27

$1.20 TTD 8.04

-34.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 TTD 10.09

$1.59 TTD 10.67

-5.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 TTD 8.06

$1.31 TTD 8.76

-8.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 TTD 28.97

$4.83 TTD 32.35

-10.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.50 TTD 124

$21.73 TTD 146

-14.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 TTD 13.14

$3.42 TTD 22.91

-42.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 TTD 18.21

$3.37 TTD 22.59

-19.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 TTD 5.34

$0.77 TTD 5.15

3.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 TTD 6.58

$0.76 TTD 5.06

28.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 TTD 4.76

$0.77 TTD 5.18

-7.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.94 TTD 100

$15.24 TTD 102

-1.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 TTD 6.20

$1.04 TTD 6.94

-10.58%

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

$26.8K TTD 179.7K

$26.7K TTD 178.8K

0.54%

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

$27.6K TTD 185.1K

$40.4K TTD 271.0K

-31.70%

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

$81.4 TTD 545

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

$44.96 TTD 301

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.4 TTD 411

$60.2 TTD 404

1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.83 TTD 327

$54.6 TTD 366

-10.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.05 TTD 101

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 TTD 34.23

$7.43 TTD 49.79

-31.22%

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

$133 TTD 888

$96.9 TTD 649

36.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,247 TTD 48.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 TTD 351

$51.7 TTD 346

1.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.74 TTD 179

$46.21 TTD 310

-42.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 TTD 848

$154 TTD 1,029

-17.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 TTD 504

$69.9 TTD 469

7.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 TTD 3,183

$413 TTD 2,767

15.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 TTD 2,376

$341 TTD 2,283

4.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$856 TTD 5,736

$805 TTD 5,394

6.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 TTD 4,828

$660 TTD 4,420

9.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,183 TTD 7,926

$733 TTD 4,908

61.50%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Tobago: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Arima versus $413 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 62% 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 – $291 in Arima vs $327 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 6% 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 $1,777 per month in Arima and $1,673 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 $1,184 in Arima and $1,115 in Tobago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $133 per month in Arima and $96.9 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 $1,115, than in Arima at $1,184. 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.