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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $919 per month in Marabella vs $1,147 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,634 per month in Marabella vs $1,892 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,348 per month in Marabella vs $2,637 in Arima, rent included.

Marabella is about 20% cheaper than Arima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Marabella and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Marabella 32% lower, Arima 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.54 TTD 71.3

$8.67 TTD 58.6

21.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.5 TTD 592

$72.6 TTD 491

20.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 TTD 48.56

$7.46 TTD 50.5

-3.75%

Cappuccino

$3.73 TTD 25.25

$2.44 TTD 16.49

52.87%

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

$1.05 TTD 7.11

$0.97 TTD 6.55

8.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 TTD 5.49

$0.77 TTD 5.19

5.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 TTD 12.40

$1.66 TTD 11.20

10.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 TTD 21.38

$2.92 TTD 19.78

8.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.68 TTD 18.15

$2.32 TTD 15.70

15.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 TTD 19.07

$2.29 TTD 15.47

23.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.66 TTD 17.98

$2.38 TTD 16.09

11.76%

Eggs

$5.12 TTD 34.62

$4.27 TTD 28.86

19.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 TTD 54.0

$6.24 TTD 42.16

27.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.55 TTD 71.4

$6.02 TTD 40.67

75.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.12 TTD 95.5

$4.33 TTD 29.28

226.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 TTD 39.15

$5.91 TTD 39.95

-2.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 TTD 17.50

$1.96 TTD 13.23

32.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 TTD 28.32

$4.18 TTD 28.28

0.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 TTD 31.61

$4.55 TTD 30.79

2.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 TTD 9.58

$1.03 TTD 6.98

37.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 TTD 11.55

$0.81 TTD 5.49

111.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 TTD 12.78

$1.52 TTD 10.30

24.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 TTD 9.88

$1.21 TTD 8.19

20.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.84 TTD 39.51

$4.26 TTD 28.79

37.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.51 TTD 125

$18.46 TTD 125

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 TTD 14.89

$1.95 TTD 13.18

12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 TTD 18.50

$2.83 TTD 19.14

-3.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 TTD 5.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.06 TTD 7.15

$0.99 TTD 6.71

7.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 TTD 8.59

$0.71 TTD 4.78

78.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.80 TTD 100

$14.60 TTD 98.7

1.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 TTD 7.41

$0.95 TTD 6.44

15.79%

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

$33.4K TTD 225.6K

$26.9K TTD 181.6K

24.21%

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

$38.4K TTD 259.9K

$27.0K TTD 182.4K

42.45%

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

$79.5 TTD 538

$78.5 TTD 531

1.29%

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

$46.75 TTD 316

$44.44 TTD 300

5.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 TTD 417

$62.8 TTD 425

-1.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.11 TTD 319

Cinema Ticket

$9.99 TTD 67.6

$5.21 TTD 35.23

91.75%

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

$331 TTD 2,237

$133 TTD 897

149.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,219 TTD 48.8K

$7,146 TTD 48.3K

1.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 TTD 395

$51.1 TTD 346

14.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.37 TTD 259

$26.10 TTD 176

47.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 TTD 983

$127 TTD 857

14.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 TTD 882

$72.6 TTD 491

79.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 TTD 3,259

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 TTD 2,366

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$854 TTD 5,774

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 TTD 4,890

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,185 TTD 8,011

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Arima: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Marabella versus $73.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $293 – 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 25% 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 $1,379 per month in Marabella and $1,721 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $919 in Marabella and $1,147 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $331 per month in Marabella and $133 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 $919, than in Arima at $1,147. 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.