Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and Tunapuna Cost of Living Comparison Between Arima and Tunapuna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,154 per month in Arima vs $1,240 in Tunapuna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,909 per month in Arima vs $2,016 in Tunapuna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,664 per month in Arima vs $2,791 in Tunapuna, rent included.

Arima is about 7% cheaper than Tunapuna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arima and Tunapuna are more affordable than the global median – Arima 13% lower, Tunapuna 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.78 TTD 59.0

$5.90 TTD 39.60

48.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 TTD 502

$74.9 TTD 503

-0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 TTD 51.1

$6.76 TTD 45.36

12.57%

Cappuccino

$2.36 TTD 15.84

$2.92 TTD 19.64

-19.18%

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

$1.01 TTD 6.78

$0.54 TTD 3.61

87.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 TTD 4.72

$0.45 TTD 3.03

55.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 TTD 10.72

$1.45 TTD 9.74

10.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 TTD 20.01

$2.94 TTD 19.74

1.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 TTD 15.02

$2.03 TTD 13.61

10.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 TTD 15.79

$2.82 TTD 18.92

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 TTD 15.38

$2.68 TTD 18.01

-14.55%

Eggs

$4.28 TTD 28.71

$4.95 TTD 33.21

-13.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.14 TTD 41.23

$7.86 TTD 52.8

-21.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 TTD 38.87

$10.31 TTD 69.2

-43.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.24 TTD 28.49

$14.02 TTD 94.2

-69.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 TTD 38.40

$5.66 TTD 38.00

1.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 TTD 13.64

$2.49 TTD 16.71

-18.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 TTD 29.03

$4.34 TTD 29.17

-0.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.38 TTD 29.44

$4.64 TTD 31.14

-5.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 TTD 6.70

$1.44 TTD 9.69

-30.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 TTD 5.53

$1.67 TTD 11.23

-50.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 TTD 9.69

$1.96 TTD 13.16

-26.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 TTD 8.04

$1.01 TTD 6.78

18.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 TTD 27.91

$5.18 TTD 34.81

-19.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.94 TTD 127

$19.32 TTD 130

-1.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 TTD 13.12

$1.44 TTD 9.70

35.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 TTD 18.41

$2.84 TTD 19.07

-3.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 TTD 5.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 TTD 6.73

$1.06 TTD 7.10

-5.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 TTD 4.83

$1.22 TTD 8.21

-40.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.52 TTD 97.5

$14.84 TTD 99.7

-2.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 TTD 6.80

$1.02 TTD 6.83

-0.98%

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

$26.8K TTD 180.0K

$34.0K TTD 228.6K

-21.23%

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

$27.2K TTD 182.9K

$39.1K TTD 262.3K

-30.28%

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

$81.5 TTD 547

$81.2 TTD 545

0.42%

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

$45.14 TTD 303

$46.77 TTD 314

-3.49%

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

$10.19 TTD 68.4

-49.95%

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

$134 TTD 901

$329 TTD 2,210

-59.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,162 TTD 48.1K

$7,210 TTD 48.4K

-0.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 TTD 352

$58.3 TTD 392

-10.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.95 TTD 181

$38.16 TTD 256

-29.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 TTD 839

$146 TTD 977

-14.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.6 TTD 494

$59.1 TTD 397

24.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 TTD 3,237

$443 TTD 2,972

8.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 TTD 2,392

$392 TTD 2,630

-9.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 TTD 5,637

$1,029 TTD 6,906

-18.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 TTD 4,799

$715 TTD 4,800

-0.02%

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 Tunapuna: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Arima versus $443 in Tunapuna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Arima versus $75.0 in Tunapuna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $359 – 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 Tunapuna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tunapuna costs about 7% more than Arima, 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 $1,860 in Tunapuna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arima, 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 $1,154 in Arima and $1,240 in Tunapuna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $134 per month in Arima and $329 in Tunapuna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arima, where all-in costs run around $1,154, than in Tunapuna at $1,240. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tunapuna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arima – 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 Arima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tunapuna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.