🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $943 in Arouca versus $1,198 in San Fernando.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,638 in Arouca versus $1,963 in San Fernando.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,333 in Arouca versus $2,727 in San Fernando.
🙂Living in Arouca costs roughly 21% less than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Arouca30% lower, San Fernando11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arouca
San Fernando
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.41TTD 70.4
$10.19TTD 68.9
2.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.8TTD 593
$59.3TTD 401
48.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.49TTD 50.7
$7.36TTD 49.77
1.77%
Cappuccino
$3.64TTD 24.64
$3.55TTD 24.03
2.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09TTD 7.37
$1.06TTD 7.15
2.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77TTD 5.18
$0.75TTD 5.06
2.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.82TTD 12.31
$1.89TTD 12.77
-3.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08TTD 20.84
$2.46TTD 16.63
25.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arouca
San Fernando
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.63TTD 17.80
$2.07TTD 14.01
27.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.80TTD 18.93
$2.34TTD 15.81
19.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.70TTD 18.28
$2.63TTD 17.77
2.66%
Eggs
$4.99TTD 33.75
$3.77TTD 25.47
32.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74TTD 52.4
$7.96TTD 53.8
-2.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.34TTD 69.9
$10.53TTD 71.2
-1.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.10TTD 95.4
$8.52TTD 57.6
65.49%
Apples(1kg)
$5.92TTD 40.00
$5.96TTD 40.27
-0.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58TTD 17.47
$2.58TTD 17.48
-
Oranges(1kg)
$4.29TTD 29.00
$4.32TTD 29.23
-0.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77TTD 32.24
$4.74TTD 32.05
0.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43TTD 9.67
$1.23TTD 8.30
16.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66TTD 11.23
$0.73TTD 4.92
127.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90TTD 12.83
$1.46TTD 9.84
30.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39TTD 9.40
$1.21TTD 8.16
14.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90TTD 39.87
$5.69TTD 38.45
3.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66TTD 126
$17.94TTD 121
4.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20TTD 14.90
$1.54TTD 10.41
42.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81TTD 19.02
$2.82TTD 19.06
-0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Arouca
San Fernando
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.42TTD 2.86
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$43.75TTD 296
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06TTD 7.15
$0.86TTD 5.79
23.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28TTD 8.65
$0.91TTD 6.16
40.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.95TTD 101
$14.70TTD 99.4
1.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13TTD 7.66
$1.03TTD 6.98
9.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1KTTD 230.2K
$33.8KTTD 228.2K
0.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9KTTD 256.5K
$38.4KTTD 259.8K
-1.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arouca
San Fernando
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.6TTD 545
$44.62TTD 302
80.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.29TTD 320
$41.80TTD 283
13.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.8TTD 411
$45.79TTD 310
32.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arouca
San Fernando
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$45.66TTD 309
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$8.95TTD 60.5
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.15TTD 68.6
$9.01TTD 60.9
12.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arouca
San Fernando
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330TTD 2,233
$324TTD 2,190
1.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,290TTD 49.3K
$2,257TTD 15.3K
222.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arouca
San Fernando
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5TTD 396
$44.69TTD 302
30.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.73TTD 262
$36.57TTD 247
5.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$148TTD 999
$89.0TTD 602
66.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128TTD 862
$87.7TTD 593
45.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arouca
San Fernando
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$550TTD 3,720
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$341TTD 2,302
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$952TTD 6,436
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$697TTD 4,714
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,003TTD 13.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,489TTD 10.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arouca
San Fernando
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,031TTD 6,971
-
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 San Fernando: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $88.0 in Arouca vs $59.0 in San Fernando for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $333 per month, with San Fernando 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 San Fernando: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arouca and San Fernando?
Arouca and San Fernando differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($943 vs $1,198 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 San Fernando?
You'd need roughly $1,414 in Arouca and $1,797 in San Fernando 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 San Fernando?
Childcare runs $330 in Arouca versus $324 in San Fernando. 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 $59.0 in San Fernando. 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 $1,198 in San Fernando, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arouca but tight or insufficient in San Fernando. 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 San Fernando?
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 San Fernando?
Expats usually find Arouca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in San Fernando. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.