🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $944 in Arouca versus $1,291 in Chaguanas.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,639 in Arouca versus $2,025 in Chaguanas.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,334 in Arouca versus $2,760 in Chaguanas.
🙂Living in Arouca costs roughly 27% less than in Chaguanas, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Arouca30% lower, Chaguanas4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.33TTD 70.2
$7.28TTD 49.42
41.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.3TTD 593
$90.0TTD 611
-2.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.51TTD 51.0
$7.55TTD 51.2
-0.53%
Cappuccino
$3.81TTD 25.85
$3.05TTD 20.70
24.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09TTD 7.40
$1.08TTD 7.37
0.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77TTD 5.20
$0.77TTD 5.23
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.88TTD 12.76
$1.88TTD 12.78
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06TTD 20.79
$2.65TTD 17.96
15.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.74TTD 18.59
$2.69TTD 18.30
1.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68TTD 18.19
$2.30TTD 15.62
16.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.72TTD 18.44
$2.67TTD 18.14
1.87%
Eggs
$4.97TTD 33.73
$4.03TTD 27.38
23.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.81TTD 53.0
$7.83TTD 53.1
-0.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.28TTD 69.8
$9.45TTD 64.2
8.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.33TTD 97.3
$12.34TTD 83.8
16.13%
Apples(1kg)
$5.70TTD 38.69
$4.50TTD 30.54
26.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61TTD 17.70
$2.60TTD 17.65
0.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.24TTD 28.76
$3.70TTD 25.15
14.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61TTD 31.29
$4.45TTD 30.21
3.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43TTD 9.71
$1.47TTD 10.01
-2.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72TTD 11.69
$1.70TTD 11.57
1.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96TTD 13.28
$1.49TTD 10.14
31.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40TTD 9.53
$1.23TTD 8.35
13.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.01TTD 40.83
$4.63TTD 31.45
29.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.29TTD 131
$17.53TTD 119
10.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10TTD 14.24
$2.17TTD 14.74
-3.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82TTD 19.15
$2.82TTD 19.12
-
🚌 Getting Around
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.24TTD 8.43
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04TTD 7.07
$1.00TTD 6.81
4.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29TTD 8.73
$1.04TTD 7.05
24.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.76TTD 100
$15.07TTD 102
-2.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14TTD 7.71
$0.97TTD 6.57
17.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KTTD 227.5K
$33.2KTTD 225.4K
0.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3KTTD 260.3K
$36.2KTTD 246.1K
5.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.2TTD 551
$80.8TTD 549
0.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.48TTD 316
$46.53TTD 316
-0.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.0TTD 428
$51.8TTD 351
21.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$43.92TTD 298
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.38TTD 200
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.22TTD 69.4
$8.90TTD 60.4
14.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321TTD 2,181
$319TTD 2,164
0.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,238TTD 49.1K
$7,197TTD 48.9K
0.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5TTD 397
$54.7TTD 371
7.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.86TTD 257
$38.52TTD 262
-1.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$148TTD 1,006
$134TTD 910
10.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128TTD 871
$118TTD 799
8.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$439TTD 2,978
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$378TTD 2,563
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$634TTD 4,303
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$536TTD 3,638
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arouca
Chaguanas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$943TTD 6,405
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chaguanas: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $87.0 in Arouca vs $90.0 in Chaguanas. Groceries flip the comparison at $374 vs $340, with Chaguanas cheaper for home cooking.
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 37% in total monthly costs ($944 vs $1,291 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 $1,416 in Arouca and $1,937 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 $321 in Arouca versus $319 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 $87.0 versus $90.0 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 $944 in Arouca versus $1,291 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 37% less than in Chaguanas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.