🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $775 in Arouca versus $1,613 in Port of Spain.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,317 in Arouca versus $2,727 in Port of Spain.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,859 in Arouca versus $3,841 in Port of Spain.
🌍Living in Arouca costs roughly 52% less than in Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Arouca is 44% below, Port of Spain is 17% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.14TTD 67.5
$10.54TTD 70.1
-3.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.0TTD 399
$90.5TTD 602
-33.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.06TTD 53.6
$8.75TTD 58.2
-7.89%
Cappuccino
$3.79TTD 25.23
$3.80TTD 25.29
-0.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99TTD 6.59
$1.05TTD 6.99
-5.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73TTD 4.84
$0.71TTD 4.71
2.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87TTD 12.46
$2.28TTD 15.15
-17.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52TTD 16.78
$3.68TTD 24.51
-31.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.99TTD 13.26
$2.44TTD 16.27
-18.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.35TTD 15.61
$2.51TTD 16.72
-6.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.82TTD 18.79
$2.88TTD 19.15
-2.08%
Eggs
$3.74TTD 24.87
$4.53TTD 30.15
-17.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.59TTD 43.88
$6.85TTD 45.56
-3.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.01TTD 66.6
$10.12TTD 67.4
-1.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.07TTD 60.4
$11.83TTD 78.7
-23.33%
Apples(1kg)
$5.40TTD 35.94
$5.61TTD 37.33
-3.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54TTD 16.91
$3.02TTD 20.11
-15.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.65TTD 24.26
$3.79TTD 25.24
-3.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.39TTD 29.23
$4.27TTD 28.41
2.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71TTD 4.71
$2.15TTD 14.31
-66.98%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73TTD 4.84
$1.95TTD 12.94
-62.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43TTD 9.55
$1.84TTD 12.27
-22.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21TTD 8.04
$1.42TTD 9.42
-14.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.54TTD 36.83
$6.06TTD 40.30
-8.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.82TTD 119
$18.94TTD 126
-5.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48TTD 9.83
$2.24TTD 14.90
-33.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09TTD 20.55
$2.97TTD 19.79
4.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.17TTD 7.77
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$136TTD 902
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91TTD 6.09
$1.03TTD 6.82
-11.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89TTD 5.94
$1.24TTD 8.23
-28.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.87TTD 99.0
$14.97TTD 99.6
-0.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17TTD 7.77
$1.17TTD 7.79
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5KTTD 249.6K
$37.4KTTD 248.8K
0.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4KTTD 269.1K
$41.7KTTD 277.6K
-3.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.83TTD 292
$91.5TTD 609
-52.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.70TTD 284
$52.4TTD 349
-18.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.62TTD 297
$57.5TTD 382
-22.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$57.1TTD 380
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.12TTD 87.3
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.98TTD 59.7
$8.72TTD 58.0
2.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$400TTD 2,661
$399TTD 2,655
0.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3KTTD 68.3K
$11.1KTTD 73.8K
-7.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3TTD 361
$54.8TTD 364
-0.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.15TTD 247
$52.9TTD 352
-29.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2TTD 580
$147TTD 981
-40.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6TTD 590
$103TTD 685
-13.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,028TTD 6,841
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$518TTD 3,449
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,187TTD 14.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,195TTD 7,949
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,371TTD 29.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,974TTD 13.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$776TTD 5,165
-
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: August 30, 2026
Last update for Port of Spain: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Arouca vs $90.0 in Port of Spain for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $358 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 Port of Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arouca and in Port of Spain?
Arouca and Port of Spain differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($775 vs $1,613 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 Port of Spain?
You'd need roughly $1,162 in Arouca and $2,420 in Port of Spain 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 Port of Spain?
Childcare runs $400 in Arouca versus $399 in Port of Spain. 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 $60.0 versus $90.0 in Port of Spain. 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 $775 in Arouca versus $1,613 in Port of Spain, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arouca but tight or insufficient in Port of Spain. 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 Port of Spain?
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.
Where should expats move: Arouca or Port of Spain?
Expats usually find Arouca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.