🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $940 in Arouca versus $1,249 in Chaguanas.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,641 in Arouca versus $2,050 in Chaguanas.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,341 in Arouca versus $2,850 in Chaguanas.
🙂Living in Arouca costs roughly 25% less than in Chaguanas, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Arouca29% lower, Chaguanas6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.46TTD 70.6
$7.49TTD 50.6
39.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.8TTD 600
$88.1TTD 595
0.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.17TTD 48.44
$7.54TTD 50.9
-4.91%
Cappuccino
$3.72TTD 25.15
$3.17TTD 21.43
17.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10TTD 7.40
$1.04TTD 7.02
5.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78TTD 5.25
$0.83TTD 5.58
-6.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80TTD 12.17
$1.88TTD 12.70
-4.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08TTD 20.84
$2.70TTD 18.26
14.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.68TTD 18.13
$2.55TTD 17.24
5.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72TTD 18.40
$2.29TTD 15.45
18.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61TTD 17.65
$2.67TTD 18.02
-2.25%
Eggs
$4.93TTD 33.28
$4.23TTD 28.56
16.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.76TTD 52.4
$7.72TTD 52.2
0.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.62TTD 71.7
$9.14TTD 61.8
16.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20TTD 95.9
$12.50TTD 84.5
13.60%
Apples(1kg)
$5.70TTD 38.54
$4.56TTD 30.81
25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50TTD 16.86
$2.52TTD 17.02
-0.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.20TTD 28.36
$3.70TTD 25.02
13.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.80TTD 32.44
$4.38TTD 29.57
9.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48TTD 10.02
$1.44TTD 9.74
2.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68TTD 11.32
$1.67TTD 11.30
0.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97TTD 13.31
$1.46TTD 9.85
34.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46TTD 9.87
$1.24TTD 8.39
17.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.96TTD 40.28
$4.77TTD 32.22
24.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.84TTD 127
$19.18TTD 130
-1.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22TTD 14.98
$2.20TTD 14.85
0.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81TTD 19.00
$2.75TTD 18.60
2.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.24TTD 8.35
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05TTD 7.12
$1.00TTD 6.77
5.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24TTD 8.35
$1.03TTD 6.97
20.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.76TTD 99.7
$14.74TTD 99.6
0.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11TTD 7.48
$0.97TTD 6.52
14.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KTTD 226.8K
$32.7KTTD 221.2K
2.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6KTTD 253.9K
$37.1KTTD 250.7K
1.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.9TTD 547
$81.7TTD 552
-0.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.10TTD 318
$46.78TTD 316
0.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.9TTD 412
$51.1TTD 345
19.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$43.95TTD 297
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.12TTD 197
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.77TTD 66.0
$9.12TTD 61.6
7.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$333TTD 2,252
$312TTD 2,107
6.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,164TTD 48.4K
$7,181TTD 48.5K
-0.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1TTD 399
$54.8TTD 370
7.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.21TTD 265
$38.72TTD 262
1.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$145TTD 979
$136TTD 918
6.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129TTD 875
$117TTD 793
10.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$428TTD 2,889
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$381TTD 2,571
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$619TTD 4,181
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$533TTD 3,604
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$779TTD 5,262
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.38
5.38
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arouca: June 13, 2026
Last update for Chaguanas: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $89.0 in Arouca vs $88.0 in Chaguanas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $340 per month, with Chaguanas cheaper across the board.
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
Arouca vs Chaguanas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arouca and Chaguanas?
Arouca and Chaguanas differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($940 vs $1,249 including rent). Arouca is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Arouca compared to Chaguanas?
You'd need roughly $1,410 in Arouca and $1,874 in Chaguanas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Arouca and Chaguanas?
Childcare runs $333 in Arouca versus $312 in Chaguanas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Arouca – a meal for two runs $89.0 versus $88.0 in Chaguanas. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $940 in Arouca versus $1,249 in Chaguanas, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arouca but tight or insufficient in Chaguanas. The gap between the two cities makes Arouca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Arouca and Chaguanas?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Arouca or Chaguanas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Arouca and Chaguanas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Arouca or Chaguanas?
Expats usually find Arouca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Chaguanas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.