Cost of Living Comparison Between Chaguanas and Arima Cost of Living Comparison Between Chaguanas and Arima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,318 per month in Chaguanas vs $1,286 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,083 per month in Chaguanas vs $2,144 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,847 per month in Chaguanas vs $3,002 in Arima, rent included.

Chaguanas costs about 2% more than Arima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chaguanas and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Chaguanas 4% lower, Arima 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.33 TTD 68.8

$10.24 TTD 68.1

0.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 TTD 392

$74.3 TTD 495

-20.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 TTD 54.1

$8.63 TTD 57.5

-5.91%

Cappuccino

$3.23 TTD 21.46

$3.77 TTD 25.08

-14.32%

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

$1.32 TTD 8.76

$1.03 TTD 6.88

28.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 TTD 6.56

$0.73 TTD 4.83

35.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 TTD 12.20

$1.85 TTD 12.31

-1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 TTD 16.98

$2.88 TTD 19.19

-11.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.50 TTD 16.64

$2.39 TTD 15.92

4.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 TTD 15.03

$2.38 TTD 15.83

-5.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 TTD 14.61

$2.92 TTD 19.41

-25.00%

Eggs

$3.90 TTD 25.94

$4.30 TTD 28.59

-9.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 TTD 49.37

$6.65 TTD 44.22

11.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.96 TTD 53.0

$6.66 TTD 44.34

19.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.79 TTD 78.5

$8.91 TTD 59.3

32.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 TTD 19.61

$5.66 TTD 37.65

-47.88%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 TTD 20.39

$2.30 TTD 15.28

33.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.05 TTD 20.31

$3.70 TTD 24.62

-17.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 TTD 35.06

$4.84 TTD 32.20

8.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 TTD 16.49

$1.33 TTD 8.86

86.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 TTD 14.42

$0.93 TTD 6.16

133.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 TTD 12.85

$1.41 TTD 9.38

36.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 TTD 8.81

$0.97 TTD 6.47

36.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 TTD 19.97

$4.84 TTD 32.18

-38.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.38 TTD 136

$18.99 TTD 126

7.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 TTD 12.73

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 TTD 16.98

$2.94 TTD 19.54

-13.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 TTD 4.76

$1.01 TTD 6.70

-28.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 TTD 14.77

$0.71 TTD 4.72

212.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 TTD 9.07

$0.75 TTD 5.02

81.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.03 TTD 100.0

$14.55 TTD 96.8

3.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 TTD 7.85

$1.13 TTD 7.50

4.42%

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

$34.1K TTD 226.7K

$27.2K TTD 181.3K

25.00%

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

$34.0K TTD 226.2K

$35.8K TTD 238.3K

-5.06%

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

$102 TTD 680

$89.5 TTD 595

14.31%

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

$39.11 TTD 260

$45.03 TTD 300

-13.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 TTD 349

$57.1 TTD 380

-8.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.7 TTD 351

$52.4 TTD 348

0.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.39 TTD 295

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 TTD 59.2

$8.93 TTD 59.4

-0.45%

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

$307 TTD 2,042

$176 TTD 1,169

74.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K TTD 70.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.37 TTD 315

$61.9 TTD 412

-23.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.59 TTD 283

$44.37 TTD 295

-4.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 TTD 687

$148 TTD 982

-30.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 TTD 739

$72.3 TTD 481

53.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 TTD 3,112

$507 TTD 3,376

-7.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 TTD 2,503

$362 TTD 2,412

3.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$969 TTD 6,445

$1,029 TTD 6,850

-5.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 TTD 5,105

$869 TTD 5,783

-11.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$792 TTD 5,272

$1,217 TTD 8,100

-34.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

-13.04%

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

Last update for Chaguanas: September 1, 2026

Last update for Arima: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $468 in Chaguanas versus $507 in Arima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 54% higher in Arima, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Chaguanas versus $74.0 in Arima. Groceries tell a different story – $332 in Chaguanas vs $314 in Arima – so Arima wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Chaguanas vs Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chaguanas costs about 2% more than Arima, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,977 per month in Chaguanas and $1,929 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,318 in Chaguanas and $1,286 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chaguanas and $176 in Arima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arima, where all-in costs run around $1,286, than in Chaguanas at $1,318. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chaguanas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arima – 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 Arima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chaguanas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.