🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $767 in Arouca versus $1,365 in Diego Martin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,304 in Arouca versus $2,283 in Diego Martin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,841 in Arouca versus $3,202 in Diego Martin.
🌍Living in Arouca costs roughly 44% less than in Diego Martin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Arouca is 44% below, Diego Martin is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.15TTD 68.3
$10.21TTD 68.7
-0.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5TTD 394
$87.2TTD 587
-32.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.04TTD 54.1
$9.03TTD 60.8
-10.96%
Cappuccino
$3.75TTD 25.24
$3.80TTD 25.58
-1.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00TTD 6.75
$1.23TTD 8.29
-18.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71TTD 4.79
$0.77TTD 5.16
-7.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79TTD 12.04
$2.24TTD 15.06
-20.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61TTD 17.53
$2.88TTD 19.39
-9.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04TTD 13.71
$2.38TTD 15.99
-14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.32TTD 15.60
$2.23TTD 14.99
4.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93TTD 19.73
$2.91TTD 19.60
0.69%
Eggs
$3.88TTD 26.10
$4.29TTD 28.84
-9.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.73TTD 45.27
$6.60TTD 44.42
1.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.00TTD 67.3
$10.19TTD 68.6
-1.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.73TTD 58.8
$8.70TTD 58.6
0.34%
Apples(1kg)
$5.36TTD 36.08
$5.53TTD 37.21
-3.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48TTD 16.68
$2.48TTD 16.70
-
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72TTD 25.04
$3.67TTD 24.66
1.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16TTD 28.01
$4.26TTD 28.64
-2.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75TTD 5.06
$0.73TTD 4.89
2.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71TTD 4.77
$0.72TTD 4.87
-1.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45TTD 9.73
$1.49TTD 10.02
-2.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20TTD 8.10
$1.15TTD 7.70
4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.45TTD 36.66
$5.67TTD 38.14
-3.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.93TTD 121
$17.92TTD 121
0.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55TTD 10.45
$1.55TTD 10.45
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94TTD 19.76
$3.08TTD 20.70
-4.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.91TTD 6.14
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$74.9TTD 504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92TTD 6.18
$1.00TTD 6.72
-8.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85TTD 5.71
$0.92TTD 6.21
-7.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.85TTD 99.9
$14.95TTD 101
-0.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13TTD 7.59
$1.11TTD 7.48
1.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4KTTD 251.4K
$14.4KTTD 97.2K
158.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1KTTD 276.8K
$41.9KTTD 282.0K
-1.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.85TTD 295
$44.77TTD 301
-2.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.83TTD 288
$42.81TTD 288
0.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.76TTD 301
$45.22TTD 304
-1.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.58TTD 300
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.76TTD 58.9
$8.81TTD 59.3
-0.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$394TTD 2,654
$391TTD 2,633
0.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KTTD 71.7K
$11.0KTTD 73.8K
-2.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6TTD 360
$54.1TTD 364
-1.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.24TTD 244
$36.45TTD 245
-0.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.8TTD 604
$88.8TTD 597
1.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.1TTD 600
$89.0TTD 599
0.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$657TTD 4,420
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$441TTD 2,970
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,442TTD 9,700
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$952TTD 6,403
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arouca
Diego Martin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,781TTD 12.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.75
5.75
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arouca: September 13, 2026
Last update for Diego Martin: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Arouca vs $87.0 in Diego Martin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $323 per month, with Arouca 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 in Diego Martin?
Arouca and Diego Martin differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($767 vs $1,365 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 $1,151 in Arouca and $2,047 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 $394 in Arouca versus $391 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 $58.0 versus $87.0 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 $767 in Arouca versus $1,365 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 78% less than in Diego Martin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.