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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,273 per month in Chaguanas vs $1,163 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,058 per month in Chaguanas vs $1,925 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,843 per month in Chaguanas vs $2,687 in Arima, rent included.

Chaguanas costs about 9% more than Arima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chaguanas and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Chaguanas 5% lower, Arima 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 TTD 49.12

$9.03 TTD 60.8

-19.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.1 TTD 607

$72.7 TTD 490

23.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 TTD 51.3

$7.50 TTD 50.6

1.47%

Cappuccino

$3.02 TTD 20.37

$2.39 TTD 16.12

26.36%

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

$1.05 TTD 7.05

$0.94 TTD 6.36

11.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 TTD 5.53

$0.75 TTD 5.07

9.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 TTD 12.34

$1.59 TTD 10.70

15.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 TTD 17.53

$3.04 TTD 20.51

-14.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.55 TTD 17.18

$2.27 TTD 15.31

12.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.18 TTD 14.71

$2.37 TTD 15.96

-8.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 TTD 18.09

$2.27 TTD 15.29

18.06%

Eggs

$4.18 TTD 28.20

$4.30 TTD 28.98

-2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.79 TTD 52.5

$6.25 TTD 42.12

24.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.38 TTD 63.2

$5.83 TTD 39.27

60.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.25 TTD 82.5

$4.33 TTD 29.17

182.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 TTD 30.69

$5.66 TTD 38.18

-19.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 TTD 17.04

$2.07 TTD 13.94

22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.51 TTD 23.65

$4.37 TTD 29.45

-19.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 TTD 29.76

$4.37 TTD 29.48

1.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 TTD 9.66

$1.00 TTD 6.73

43.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 TTD 11.22

$0.84 TTD 5.65

97.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 TTD 10.07

$1.46 TTD 9.83

2.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 TTD 8.33

$1.14 TTD 7.72

8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 TTD 30.51

$4.29 TTD 28.92

5.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.45 TTD 131

$19.35 TTD 130

0.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 TTD 14.83

$1.89 TTD 12.75

16.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 TTD 18.19

$2.81 TTD 18.95

-3.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 TTD 8.33

$0.79 TTD 5.31

56.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 TTD 6.80

$0.92 TTD 6.19

9.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 TTD 7.29

$0.72 TTD 4.89

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.01 TTD 101

$14.64 TTD 98.7

2.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 TTD 6.23

$0.94 TTD 6.33

-2.13%

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

$33.3K TTD 224.2K

$27.3K TTD 183.7K

22.09%

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

$36.5K TTD 245.7K

$27.7K TTD 186.4K

31.83%

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

$81.3 TTD 548

$81.5 TTD 549

-0.31%

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

$47.00 TTD 317

$43.65 TTD 294

7.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.0 TTD 351

$62.7 TTD 422

-17.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.04 TTD 297

$47.80 TTD 322

-7.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.05 TTD 203

Cinema Ticket

$9.08 TTD 61.2

$5.19 TTD 34.98

74.95%

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

$315 TTD 2,126

$131 TTD 881

141.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,077 TTD 47.7K

$7,074 TTD 47.7K

0.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 TTD 369

$51.2 TTD 345

7.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.18 TTD 264

$27.01 TTD 182

45.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 TTD 910

$127 TTD 859

5.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 TTD 802

$75.0 TTD 505

58.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 TTD 2,929

$485 TTD 3,267

-10.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 TTD 2,584

$355 TTD 2,389

8.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 TTD 4,168

$843 TTD 5,680

-26.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$533 TTD 3,591

$707 TTD 4,763

-24.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$792 TTD 5,335

$1,206 TTD 8,127

-34.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

79.33%

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

Last update for Chaguanas: July 14, 2026

Last update for Arima: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chaguanas versus $485 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 52% 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 $90.0 in Chaguanas versus $73.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $292 – making Arima 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

Chaguanas vs Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chaguanas costs about 9% 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 $1,909 per month in Chaguanas and $1,745 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 $1,273 in Chaguanas and $1,163 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $315 per month in Chaguanas and $131 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 $1,163, than in Chaguanas at $1,273. 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.