Cost of Living Comparison Between Carenage and Port of Spain Cost of Living Comparison Between Carenage and Port of Spain

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $776 per month in Carenage vs $1,613 in Port of Spain, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,315 per month in Carenage vs $2,727 in Port of Spain, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,853 per month in Carenage vs $3,841 in Port of Spain, rent included.

Carenage is about 52% cheaper than Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Carenage sits 43% below the global median, while Port of Spain is 17% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.27 TTD 68.3

$10.54 TTD 70.1

-2.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 TTD 391

$90.5 TTD 602

-35.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 TTD 55.2

$8.75 TTD 58.2

-5.26%

Cappuccino

$3.67 TTD 24.40

$3.80 TTD 25.29

-3.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 TTD 6.59

$1.05 TTD 6.99

-5.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 TTD 5.14

$0.71 TTD 4.71

8.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 TTD 12.38

$2.28 TTD 15.15

-18.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 TTD 17.04

$3.68 TTD 24.51

-30.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 TTD 13.30

$2.44 TTD 16.27

-18.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.29 TTD 15.27

$2.51 TTD 16.72

-8.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.89 TTD 19.24

$2.88 TTD 19.15

0.35%

Eggs

$3.85 TTD 25.60

$4.53 TTD 30.15

-15.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.52 TTD 43.39

$6.85 TTD 45.56

-4.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.89 TTD 65.8

$10.12 TTD 67.4

-2.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.91 TTD 59.3

$11.83 TTD 78.7

-24.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.61 TTD 37.31

$5.61 TTD 37.33

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 TTD 16.24

$3.02 TTD 20.11

-19.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 TTD 23.93

$3.79 TTD 25.24

-5.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 TTD 27.83

$4.27 TTD 28.41

-2.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 TTD 4.82

$2.15 TTD 14.31

-66.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 TTD 4.81

$1.95 TTD 12.94

-63.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 TTD 10.06

$1.84 TTD 12.27

-17.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 TTD 7.67

$1.42 TTD 9.42

-19.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.72 TTD 38.04

$6.06 TTD 40.30

-5.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.54 TTD 117

$18.94 TTD 126

-7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 TTD 9.82

$2.24 TTD 14.90

-34.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 TTD 19.71

$2.97 TTD 19.79

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 TTD 7.77

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$136 TTD 902

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 TTD 5.94

$1.03 TTD 6.82

-13.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 TTD 5.66

$1.24 TTD 8.23

-31.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.46 TTD 96.2

$14.97 TTD 99.6

-3.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TTD 7.73

$1.17 TTD 7.79

-0.85%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.2K TTD 241.0K

$37.4K TTD 248.8K

-3.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.9K TTD 278.9K

$41.7K TTD 277.6K

0.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$43.96 TTD 293

$91.5 TTD 609

-51.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$42.53 TTD 283

$52.4 TTD 349

-18.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.95 TTD 306

$57.5 TTD 382

-20.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 TTD 380

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.12 TTD 87.3

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 TTD 59.0

$8.72 TTD 58.0

1.61%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$397 TTD 2,640

$399 TTD 2,655

-0.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K TTD 69.8K

$11.1K TTD 73.8K

-5.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 TTD 363

$54.8 TTD 364

-0.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.30 TTD 242

$52.9 TTD 352

-31.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 TTD 582

$147 TTD 981

-40.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 TTD 584

$103 TTD 685

-14.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 TTD 6,841

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$518 TTD 3,449

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,187 TTD 14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 TTD 7,949

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,371 TTD 29.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,974 TTD 13.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$776 TTD 5,165

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Carenage: August 31, 2026

Last update for Port of Spain: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Carenage versus $90.0 in Port of Spain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $315 vs $358 – making Carenage the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Carenage vs Port of Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Port of Spain is pricier by about 108%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,165 per month in Carenage and $2,420 in Port of Spain. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Carenage and $90.0 in Port of Spain. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Port of Spain, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Carenage, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Port of Spain at $1,613. In Carenage it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port of Spain it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Carenage – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Carenage. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port of Spain makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.