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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,149 per month in Couva vs $1,639 in Port of Spain, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,756 per month in Couva vs $2,759 in Port of Spain, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,363 per month in Couva vs $3,879 in Port of Spain, rent included.

Couva is about 30% cheaper than Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Couva sits 17% below the global median, while Port of Spain is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Couva
Port of Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.39 TTD 70.0
$10.44 TTD 70.4
-0.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.0 TTD 405
$89.4 TTD 602
-32.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.23 TTD 55.5
$8.71 TTD 58.7
-5.51%
Cappuccino
$3.83 TTD 25.83
$3.76 TTD 25.34
1.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 TTD 6.76
$1.04 TTD 7.01
-3.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 TTD 5.06
$0.76 TTD 5.12
-1.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 TTD 12.16
$2.17 TTD 14.60
-17.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 TTD 17.04
$3.66 TTD 24.70
-30.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Couva
Port of Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 TTD 13.47
$2.46 TTD 16.59
-18.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 TTD 15.72
$2.59 TTD 17.46
-10.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.84 TTD 19.11
$2.83 TTD 19.05
0.35%
Eggs
$3.74 TTD 25.24
$4.40 TTD 29.66
-15.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.74 TTD 45.47
$6.49 TTD 43.75
3.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.20 TTD 68.7
$10.08 TTD 68.0
1.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.01 TTD 60.7
$11.68 TTD 78.7
-22.86%
Apples (1kg)
$5.54 TTD 37.36
$5.62 TTD 37.90
-1.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 TTD 17.01
$3.13 TTD 21.12
-19.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.70 TTD 24.96
$3.79 TTD 25.52
-2.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 TTD 29.11
$4.37 TTD 29.47
-1.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 TTD 5.12
$2.19 TTD 14.76
-65.30%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 TTD 4.85
$1.91 TTD 12.85
-62.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 TTD 9.73
$1.88 TTD 12.69
-23.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 TTD 7.86
$1.39 TTD 9.38
-15.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.56 TTD 37.48
$5.83 TTD 39.29
-4.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 TTD 121
$19.09 TTD 129
-5.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 TTD 10.02
$2.30 TTD 15.52
-35.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 TTD 20.64
$2.94 TTD 19.84
4.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Couva
Port of Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.37 TTD 9.22
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$134 TTD 906
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 TTD 5.66
$1.01 TTD 6.84
-16.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 TTD 6.03
$1.27 TTD 8.57
-29.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.73 TTD 99.3
$14.62 TTD 98.6
0.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 TTD 7.77
$1.16 TTD 7.81
-0.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K TTD 251.2K
$37.5K TTD 252.8K
-0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K TTD 280.5K
$41.2K TTD 277.6K
1.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Couva
Port of Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.63 TTD 294
$89.5 TTD 603
-51.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.36 TTD 279
$51.9 TTD 350
-20.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.63 TTD 301
$56.7 TTD 382
-21.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Couva
Port of Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$56.0 TTD 377
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.13 TTD 88.5
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.74 TTD 58.9
$8.77 TTD 59.1
-0.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Couva
Port of Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$392 TTD 2,645
$405 TTD 2,731
-3.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K TTD 73.0K
$10.7K TTD 72.2K
1.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Couva
Port of Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6 TTD 368
$54.6 TTD 368
-0.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.30 TTD 245
$51.9 TTD 350
-30.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 TTD 604
$143 TTD 966
-37.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 TTD 598
$102 TTD 687
-13.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Couva
Port of Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$420 TTD 2,831
$1,000 TTD 6,743
-58.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 TTD 2,597
$523 TTD 3,524
-26.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$524 TTD 3,531
$2,216 TTD 14.9K
-76.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 TTD 3,117
$1,194 TTD 8,047
-61.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,316 TTD 29.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,991 TTD 13.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Couva
Port of Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$778 TTD 5,242
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.75
5.75
-

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

Last update for Couva: September 8, 2026

Last update for Port of Spain: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $420 in Couva versus $1,000 in Port of Spain. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Couva versus $89.0 in Port of Spain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $358 – making Couva 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
Couva vs Port of Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Couva and in Port of Spain compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,149 in Couva, $1,639 in Port of Spain – roughly 43% apart. Port of Spain costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Couva compared to Port of Spain?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,723 per month in Couva and $2,459 in Port of Spain. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Couva and Port of Spain?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Couva, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Couva or Port of Spain?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,149 in Couva and $1,639 in Port of Spain. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Couva and Port of Spain?
Kindergarten costs $392 per month in Couva and $405 in Port of Spain. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Couva, where all-in costs run around $1,149, than in Port of Spain at $1,639. In Couva it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port of Spain it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Couva and Port of Spain?
It depends on your priorities. Couva has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,149 in Couva to $1,639 in Port of Spain. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Couva or Port of Spain safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Couva and Port of Spain?
If budget matters most, go with Couva. 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.

Couva vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities