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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $772 per month in Marabella vs $1,262 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,324 per month in Marabella vs $2,162 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,875 per month in Marabella vs $3,061 in Arima, rent included.

Marabella is about 39% cheaper than Arima, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Marabella and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Marabella 44% lower, Arima 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.51 TTD 70.7

$10.12 TTD 68.1

3.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 TTD 398

$73.1 TTD 492

-19.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.95 TTD 53.5

$8.88 TTD 59.8

-10.47%

Cappuccino

$3.83 TTD 25.75

$3.77 TTD 25.36

1.59%

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

$1.05 TTD 7.04

$1.01 TTD 6.79

3.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 TTD 5.06

$0.76 TTD 5.11

-1.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 TTD 12.06

$1.80 TTD 12.10

-0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 TTD 17.63

$2.92 TTD 19.65

-10.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 TTD 13.20

$2.39 TTD 16.08

-17.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 TTD 15.05

$2.41 TTD 16.23

-7.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.79 TTD 18.80

$2.84 TTD 19.09

-1.76%

Eggs

$3.85 TTD 25.89

$4.39 TTD 29.53

-12.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 TTD 45.90

$6.70 TTD 45.06

1.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.93 TTD 66.8

$6.38 TTD 42.90

55.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.09 TTD 61.1

$8.99 TTD 60.5

1.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.61 TTD 37.74

$5.53 TTD 37.20

1.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 TTD 16.57

$2.30 TTD 15.47

6.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 TTD 25.40

$3.63 TTD 24.45

4.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 TTD 29.25

$4.95 TTD 33.33

-12.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 TTD 4.80

$1.33 TTD 8.94

-46.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 TTD 4.74

$1.00 TTD 6.76

-30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 TTD 9.65

$1.40 TTD 9.42

2.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 TTD 7.71

$0.91 TTD 6.13

26.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.52 TTD 37.13

$4.82 TTD 32.43

14.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.55 TTD 118

$19.37 TTD 130

-9.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 TTD 9.96

$1.84 TTD 12.38

-19.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 TTD 20.63

$2.96 TTD 19.93

3.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 TTD 7.11

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 TTD 6.21

$0.78 TTD 5.22

17.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 TTD 6.11

$0.75 TTD 5.06

21.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.83 TTD 99.8

$14.90 TTD 100

-0.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 TTD 7.89

$1.12 TTD 7.54

4.46%

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

$37.0K TTD 249.3K

$27.2K TTD 183.3K

36.01%

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

$41.3K TTD 277.8K

$36.1K TTD 243.1K

14.27%

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

$43.95 TTD 296

$91.8 TTD 617

-52.10%

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

$42.94 TTD 289

$44.02 TTD 296

-2.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.80 TTD 301

$55.5 TTD 373

-19.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 TTD 353

Cinema Ticket

$8.88 TTD 59.8

$8.88 TTD 59.7

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

$405 TTD 2,722

$179 TTD 1,205

126.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K TTD 72.8K

$10.9K TTD 73.2K

-0.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 TTD 369

$63.8 TTD 429

-14.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.50 TTD 246

$43.62 TTD 293

-16.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 TTD 584

$147 TTD 991

-41.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 TTD 584

$74.4 TTD 501

16.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$517 TTD 3,476

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 TTD 2,463

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,044 TTD 7,023

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$876 TTD 5,891

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,188 TTD 7,994

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

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

Last update for Marabella: September 13, 2026

Last update for Arima: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Marabella versus $73.0 in Arima. Groceries tell a different story – $317 in Marabella vs $313 in Arima – so Arima wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 63% more than Marabella, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,159 per month in Marabella and $1,893 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $772 in Marabella and $1,262 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $405 per month in Marabella and $179 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 $772, than in Arima at $1,262. 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.