🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $943 in Arouca versus $1,239 in Tunapuna.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,638 in Arouca versus $1,986 in Tunapuna.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,333 in Arouca versus $2,732 in Tunapuna.
🙂Living in Arouca costs roughly 24% less than in Tunapuna, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Arouca30% lower, Tunapuna8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arouca
Tunapuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.41TTD 70.4
$5.89TTD 39.82
76.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.8TTD 593
$72.7TTD 492
20.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.49TTD 50.7
$6.53TTD 44.15
14.70%
Cappuccino
$3.64TTD 24.64
$3.01TTD 20.33
20.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09TTD 7.37
$0.54TTD 3.68
101.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77TTD 5.18
$0.45TTD 3.05
71.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.82TTD 12.31
$1.51TTD 10.22
20.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08TTD 20.84
$3.00TTD 20.31
2.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arouca
Tunapuna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.63TTD 17.80
$2.10TTD 14.22
25.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.80TTD 18.93
$2.69TTD 18.18
4.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.70TTD 18.28
$2.65TTD 17.92
1.89%
Eggs
$4.99TTD 33.75
$4.94TTD 33.43
1.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74TTD 52.4
$7.98TTD 54.0
-3.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.34TTD 69.9
$10.46TTD 70.7
-1.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.10TTD 95.4
$14.21TTD 96.0
-0.77%
Apples(1kg)
$5.92TTD 40.00
$5.77TTD 39.01
2.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58TTD 17.47
$2.57TTD 17.40
0.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.29TTD 29.00
$4.44TTD 30.00
-3.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77TTD 32.24
$4.70TTD 31.75
1.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43TTD 9.67
$1.47TTD 9.96
-2.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66TTD 11.23
$1.73TTD 11.68
-4.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90TTD 12.83
$1.90TTD 12.87
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39TTD 9.40
$1.01TTD 6.85
37.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90TTD 39.87
$5.02TTD 33.95
17.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66TTD 126
$18.81TTD 127
-0.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20TTD 14.90
$1.50TTD 10.15
46.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81TTD 19.02
$2.74TTD 18.55
2.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Arouca
Tunapuna
Difference
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06TTD 7.15
$1.06TTD 7.16
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28TTD 8.65
$1.21TTD 8.21
5.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.95TTD 101
$14.95TTD 101
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13TTD 7.66
$1.01TTD 6.81
11.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1KTTD 230.2K
$33.4KTTD 225.8K
1.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9KTTD 256.5K
$38.6KTTD 260.7K
-1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arouca
Tunapuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.6TTD 545
$80.0TTD 541
0.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.29TTD 320
$47.46TTD 321
-0.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.8TTD 411
$61.6TTD 416
-1.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arouca
Tunapuna
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$10.15TTD 68.6
$9.71TTD 65.7
4.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arouca
Tunapuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330TTD 2,233
$326TTD 2,201
1.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,290TTD 49.3K
$7,083TTD 47.9K
2.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arouca
Tunapuna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5TTD 396
$59.3TTD 401
-1.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.73TTD 262
$37.95TTD 257
2.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$148TTD 999
$148TTD 1,003
-0.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128TTD 862
$58.3TTD 394
118.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arouca
Tunapuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$440TTD 2,973
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$389TTD 2,630
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,051TTD 7,105
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$714TTD 4,827
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arouca
Tunapuna
Difference
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 Tunapuna: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $88.0 in Arouca vs $73.0 in Tunapuna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $361 per month, with Tunapuna 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 Tunapuna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arouca and Tunapuna?
Arouca and Tunapuna differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($943 vs $1,239 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 Tunapuna?
You'd need roughly $1,414 in Arouca and $1,859 in Tunapuna 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 Tunapuna?
Childcare runs $330 in Arouca versus $326 in Tunapuna. 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 $73.0 in Tunapuna. 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 $1,239 in Tunapuna, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arouca but tight or insufficient in Tunapuna. 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 Tunapuna?
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 Tunapuna?
Expats usually find Arouca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Tunapuna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.