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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,295 per month in Chaguanas vs $1,184 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,037 per month in Chaguanas vs $1,919 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,779 per month in Chaguanas vs $2,653 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 3% lower, Arima 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 TTD 50.6

$8.96 TTD 60.0

-15.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.4 TTD 606

$72.5 TTD 486

24.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.33 TTD 49.08

$7.32 TTD 49.03

0.14%

Cappuccino

$3.11 TTD 20.87

$2.42 TTD 16.24

28.51%

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

$1.09 TTD 7.30

$0.96 TTD 6.46

13.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 TTD 5.45

$0.71 TTD 4.73

14.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 TTD 12.62

$1.64 TTD 10.99

14.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 TTD 18.34

$2.89 TTD 19.38

-5.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.58 TTD 17.30

$2.32 TTD 15.55

11.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.29 TTD 15.37

$2.26 TTD 15.17

1.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 TTD 17.59

$2.25 TTD 15.09

16.89%

Eggs

$4.00 TTD 26.82

$4.24 TTD 28.37

-5.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 TTD 53.4

$5.91 TTD 39.58

34.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.98 TTD 60.2

$5.82 TTD 38.97

54.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 TTD 84.4

$4.41 TTD 29.54

185.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 TTD 31.58

$5.97 TTD 40.00

-21.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 TTD 16.96

$2.03 TTD 13.63

24.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.53 TTD 23.67

$4.26 TTD 28.53

-17.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.45 TTD 29.78

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 TTD 9.88

$1.04 TTD 6.97

42.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 TTD 11.22

$0.79 TTD 5.27

111.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 TTD 10.03

$1.51 TTD 10.09

-0.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 TTD 8.53

$1.20 TTD 8.06

5.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 TTD 31.45

$4.32 TTD 28.97

8.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.38 TTD 123

$18.50 TTD 124

-0.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 TTD 14.69

$1.96 TTD 13.14

11.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 TTD 18.90

$2.72 TTD 18.21

3.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 TTD 8.28

$0.80 TTD 5.34

55.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 TTD 6.73

$0.98 TTD 6.58

3.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 TTD 7.10

$0.71 TTD 4.76

49.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.02 TTD 101

$14.94 TTD 100

0.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 TTD 6.46

$0.93 TTD 6.20

3.23%

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

$32.7K TTD 219.3K

$26.8K TTD 179.7K

22.00%

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

$36.3K TTD 243.2K

$27.6K TTD 185.1K

31.43%

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

$81.2 TTD 544

$81.4 TTD 545

-0.23%

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

$46.40 TTD 311

$44.96 TTD 301

3.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.6 TTD 346

$61.4 TTD 411

-15.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.73 TTD 293

$48.83 TTD 327

-10.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.13 TTD 195

Cinema Ticket

$8.94 TTD 59.9

$5.11 TTD 34.23

74.95%

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

$321 TTD 2,148

$133 TTD 888

142.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,275 TTD 48.7K

$7,247 TTD 48.6K

0.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 TTD 374

$52.4 TTD 351

6.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.61 TTD 259

$26.74 TTD 179

44.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 TTD 906

$127 TTD 848

6.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 TTD 781

$75.2 TTD 504

55.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 TTD 2,884

$475 TTD 3,183

-9.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 TTD 2,525

$355 TTD 2,376

6.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$629 TTD 4,214

$856 TTD 5,736

-26.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$539 TTD 3,608

$721 TTD 4,828

-25.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$784 TTD 5,250

$1,183 TTD 7,926

-33.76%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Arima: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chaguanas versus $475 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 51% 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: $339 vs $291 – 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 $1,942 per month in Chaguanas and $1,777 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 $1,295 in Chaguanas and $1,184 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $321 per month in Chaguanas and $133 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 $1,184, than in Chaguanas at $1,295. 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.