🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $943 in Arouca versus $1,420 in Diego Martin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,638 in Arouca versus $2,396 in Diego Martin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,333 in Arouca versus $3,372 in Diego Martin.
🙂Living in Arouca costs roughly 34% less than in Diego Martin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Arouca is 30% below, Diego Martin is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.41TTD 70.4
$5.25TTD 35.52
98.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.8TTD 593
$74.1TTD 501
18.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.49TTD 50.7
$6.75TTD 45.61
10.96%
Cappuccino
$3.64TTD 24.64
$3.61TTD 24.39
0.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09TTD 7.37
$1.10TTD 7.45
-0.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77TTD 5.18
$0.57TTD 3.87
35.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.82TTD 12.31
$1.89TTD 12.80
-3.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08TTD 20.84
$3.01TTD 20.33
2.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.63TTD 17.80
$2.78TTD 18.78
-5.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.80TTD 18.93
$2.13TTD 14.38
31.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.70TTD 18.28
$2.57TTD 17.40
5.06%
Eggs
$4.99TTD 33.75
$4.51TTD 30.48
10.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74TTD 52.4
$7.75TTD 52.4
-0.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.34TTD 69.9
$10.43TTD 70.5
-0.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.10TTD 95.4
$14.51TTD 98.1
-2.83%
Apples(1kg)
$5.92TTD 40.00
$5.86TTD 39.62
1.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58TTD 17.47
$2.53TTD 17.10
1.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.29TTD 29.00
$4.24TTD 28.68
1.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77TTD 32.24
$4.61TTD 31.16
3.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43TTD 9.67
$1.50TTD 10.16
-4.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66TTD 11.23
$1.70TTD 11.51
-2.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90TTD 12.83
$1.94TTD 13.08
-2.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39TTD 9.40
$1.46TTD 9.87
-4.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90TTD 39.87
$5.86TTD 39.63
0.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66TTD 126
$18.46TTD 125
1.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20TTD 14.90
$2.15TTD 14.51
2.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81TTD 19.02
$2.82TTD 19.05
-0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.86TTD 5.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$74.3TTD 502
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06TTD 7.15
$1.01TTD 6.83
4.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28TTD 8.65
$0.91TTD 6.15
40.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.95TTD 101
$14.62TTD 98.9
2.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13TTD 7.66
$1.08TTD 7.29
4.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1KTTD 230.2K
$14.5KTTD 98.1K
134.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9KTTD 256.5K
$38.3KTTD 258.7K
-0.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.6TTD 545
$78.8TTD 533
2.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.29TTD 320
$46.94TTD 317
0.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.8TTD 411
$62.7TTD 424
-2.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.19TTD 299
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.15TTD 68.6
$7.59TTD 51.3
33.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330TTD 2,233
$334TTD 2,256
-1.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,290TTD 49.3K
$7,115TTD 48.1K
2.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5TTD 396
$59.8TTD 405
-2.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.73TTD 262
$39.07TTD 264
-0.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$148TTD 999
$148TTD 1,002
-0.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128TTD 862
$130TTD 882
-2.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$673TTD 4,548
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$448TTD 3,029
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,417TTD 9,580
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$956TTD 6,462
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,799TTD 12.2K
-
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 8, 2026
Last update for Diego Martin: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $88.0 in Arouca vs $74.0 in Diego Martin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $367 per month, with Diego Martin 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 Diego Martin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arouca and Diego Martin?
Arouca and Diego Martin differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($943 vs $1,420 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 Diego Martin?
You'd need roughly $1,414 in Arouca and $2,131 in Diego Martin 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 Diego Martin?
Childcare runs $330 in Arouca versus $334 in Diego Martin. 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 $88.0 versus $74.0 in Diego Martin. 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 $943 in Arouca versus $1,420 in Diego Martin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arouca but tight or insufficient in Diego Martin. 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 Diego Martin?
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 Diego Martin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Arouca and Diego Martin 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 Diego Martin?
Expats usually find Arouca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Diego Martin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.