🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $938 in Arouca versus $1,593 in Port of Spain.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,614 in Arouca versus $2,747 in Port of Spain.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,289 in Arouca versus $3,901 in Port of Spain.
🌍Living in Arouca costs roughly 41% less than in Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Arouca is 30% below, Port of Spain is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.19TTD 68.7
$10.50TTD 70.8
-2.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.3TTD 602
$89.6TTD 604
-0.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.19TTD 48.46
$7.27TTD 49.00
-1.10%
Cappuccino
$3.64TTD 24.54
$3.73TTD 25.16
-2.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09TTD 7.36
$1.10TTD 7.42
-0.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82TTD 5.50
$0.76TTD 5.15
7.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.82TTD 12.30
$1.90TTD 12.83
-4.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17TTD 21.34
$3.02TTD 20.38
4.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.68TTD 18.06
$2.71TTD 18.28
-1.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.74TTD 18.46
$2.82TTD 19.02
-2.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.63TTD 17.70
$2.61TTD 17.61
0.77%
Eggs
$4.95TTD 33.36
$5.14TTD 34.65
-3.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.10TTD 54.6
$7.77TTD 52.4
4.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.57TTD 71.2
$10.60TTD 71.5
-0.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.19TTD 95.6
$14.37TTD 96.9
-1.25%
Apples(1kg)
$5.72TTD 38.53
$5.79TTD 39.05
-1.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57TTD 17.33
$2.54TTD 17.09
1.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.32TTD 29.14
$4.24TTD 28.60
1.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.87TTD 32.79
$4.87TTD 32.83
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.44TTD 9.73
$1.48TTD 9.97
-2.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66TTD 11.22
$1.67TTD 11.29
-0.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90TTD 12.81
$1.94TTD 13.06
-2.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40TTD 9.44
$1.42TTD 9.55
-1.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.80TTD 39.12
$6.06TTD 40.85
-4.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.17TTD 129
$19.02TTD 128
0.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22TTD 14.95
$2.22TTD 14.95
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85TTD 19.23
$2.73TTD 18.43
4.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.05TTD 7.05
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$99.0TTD 667
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04TTD 7.01
$1.02TTD 6.86
1.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23TTD 8.28
$1.29TTD 8.66
-4.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.06TTD 101
$14.61TTD 98.5
3.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10TTD 7.44
$1.14TTD 7.67
-3.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8KTTD 227.5K
$34.4KTTD 231.8K
-1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1KTTD 263.2K
$38.3KTTD 257.8K
2.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.4TTD 535
$79.6TTD 537
-0.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.34TTD 312
$46.31TTD 312
0.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2TTD 412
$61.4TTD 414
-0.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$54.2TTD 365
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.11TTD 88.4
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.99TTD 67.4
$10.23TTD 69.0
-2.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$326TTD 2,199
$330TTD 2,225
-1.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,079TTD 47.7K
$7,163TTD 48.3K
-1.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3TTD 400
$60.1TTD 405
-1.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.67TTD 261
$38.87TTD 262
-0.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$144TTD 968
$143TTD 967
0.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126TTD 850
$128TTD 861
-1.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$765TTD 5,155
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$483TTD 3,254
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,824TTD 12.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,285TTD 8,664
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,344TTD 29.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,726TTD 11.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arouca
Port of Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$770TTD 5,188
-
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Port of Spain: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $89.0 in Arouca vs $90.0 in Port of Spain for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $378 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 70% in total monthly costs ($938 vs $1,593 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 $1,407 in Arouca and $2,390 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 $326 in Arouca versus $330 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 $89.0 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 $938 in Arouca versus $1,593 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 70% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.