Cost of Living Comparison Between Marabella and Arima Cost of Living Comparison Between Marabella and Arima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $943 per month in Marabella vs $1,162 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,641 per month in Marabella vs $1,901 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,339 per month in Marabella vs $2,639 in Arima, rent included.

Marabella is about 19% cheaper than Arima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Marabella and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Marabella 30% lower, Arima 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.24 TTD 69.5

$8.65 TTD 58.8

18.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.1 TTD 605

$72.8 TTD 494

22.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 TTD 51.2

$7.30 TTD 49.59

3.29%

Cappuccino

$3.78 TTD 25.69

$2.31 TTD 15.67

63.64%

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

$1.10 TTD 7.47

$0.94 TTD 6.39

17.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.18

$0.75 TTD 5.11

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 TTD 12.34

$1.65 TTD 11.19

10.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 TTD 20.61

$2.98 TTD 20.26

1.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.74 TTD 18.60

$2.24 TTD 15.24

22.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.74 TTD 18.59

$2.37 TTD 16.11

15.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.56 TTD 17.40

$2.30 TTD 15.63

11.30%

Eggs

$4.91 TTD 33.34

$4.22 TTD 28.63

16.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.79 TTD 52.9

$6.21 TTD 42.16

25.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.38 TTD 70.5

$5.72 TTD 38.83

81.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.57 TTD 98.9

$4.25 TTD 28.86

242.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.69 TTD 38.61

$5.91 TTD 40.10

-3.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 TTD 17.13

$1.96 TTD 13.33

28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 TTD 30.08

$4.42 TTD 29.99

0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 TTD 32.63

$4.49 TTD 30.47

7.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 TTD 9.79

$1.00 TTD 6.77

44.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 TTD 11.71

$0.78 TTD 5.31

121.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 TTD 13.38

$1.44 TTD 9.80

36.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 TTD 9.98

$1.20 TTD 8.17

22.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.03 TTD 40.97

$4.19 TTD 28.48

43.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 TTD 134

$19.55 TTD 133

0.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 TTD 14.38

$1.90 TTD 12.90

11.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 TTD 18.73

$2.73 TTD 18.52

1.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 TTD 5.43

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.06 TTD 7.18

$0.95 TTD 6.42

11.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 TTD 8.41

$0.72 TTD 4.92

72.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.59 TTD 99.1

$14.71 TTD 99.9

-0.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 TTD 7.74

$0.92 TTD 6.28

23.91%

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

$34.1K TTD 231.3K

$27.0K TTD 183.2K

26.25%

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

$37.8K TTD 256.8K

$27.3K TTD 185.2K

38.69%

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

$79.1 TTD 537

$79.5 TTD 540

-0.45%

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

$47.09 TTD 320

$44.40 TTD 301

6.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.8 TTD 413

$63.0 TTD 427

-3.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.51 TTD 329

Cinema Ticket

$9.96 TTD 67.6

$5.10 TTD 34.63

95.29%

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

$328 TTD 2,228

$131 TTD 889

150.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,263 TTD 49.3K

$7,130 TTD 48.4K

1.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 TTD 402

$51.7 TTD 351

14.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.90 TTD 257

$26.67 TTD 181

42.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$148 TTD 1,003

$126 TTD 858

16.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 TTD 859

$74.8 TTD 508

68.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 TTD 3,222

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 TTD 2,457

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 TTD 5,748

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 TTD 4,788

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,190 TTD 8,077

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 Marabella: April 26, 2026

Last update for Arima: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Marabella versus $73.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 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

Marabella vs Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arima costs about 23% more than Marabella, 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 $1,414 per month in Marabella and $1,744 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $943 in Marabella and $1,162 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $328 per month in Marabella and $131 in Arima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Marabella, where all-in costs run around $943, than in Arima at $1,162. In Marabella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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