🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $919 in Marabella versus $1,549 in Port of Spain.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,634 in Marabella versus $2,722 in Port of Spain.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,348 in Marabella versus $3,895 in Port of Spain.
🙂Living in Marabella costs roughly 41% less than in Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Marabella is 32% below, Port of Spain is 15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marabella
Port of Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.54TTD 71.3
$10.50TTD 71.0
0.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.5TTD 592
$89.3TTD 604
-1.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.18TTD 48.56
$7.54TTD 51.0
-4.77%
Cappuccino
$3.73TTD 25.25
$3.75TTD 25.36
-0.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05TTD 7.11
$1.04TTD 7.03
0.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81TTD 5.49
$0.83TTD 5.58
-2.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83TTD 12.40
$1.81TTD 12.23
1.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16TTD 21.38
$3.03TTD 20.48
4.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marabella
Port of Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.68TTD 18.15
$2.64TTD 17.82
1.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82TTD 19.07
$2.71TTD 18.30
4.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66TTD 17.98
$2.65TTD 17.93
0.38%
Eggs
$5.12TTD 34.62
$5.04TTD 34.06
1.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.98TTD 54.0
$7.70TTD 52.0
3.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.55TTD 71.4
$10.61TTD 71.7
-0.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.12TTD 95.5
$14.32TTD 96.8
-1.40%
Apples(1kg)
$5.79TTD 39.15
$5.78TTD 39.06
0.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59TTD 17.50
$2.58TTD 17.42
0.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.19TTD 28.32
$4.40TTD 29.76
-4.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68TTD 31.61
$4.84TTD 32.70
-3.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42TTD 9.58
$1.43TTD 9.68
-0.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71TTD 11.55
$1.71TTD 11.54
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89TTD 12.78
$1.97TTD 13.31
-4.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46TTD 9.88
$1.41TTD 9.55
3.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.84TTD 39.51
$5.93TTD 40.06
-1.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.51TTD 125
$18.16TTD 123
1.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20TTD 14.89
$2.14TTD 14.48
2.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74TTD 18.50
$2.74TTD 18.54
-
🚌 Getting Around
Marabella
Port of Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.00TTD 6.77
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$98.5TTD 666
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06TTD 7.15
$1.04TTD 7.04
1.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27TTD 8.59
$1.23TTD 8.32
3.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.80TTD 100
$14.65TTD 99.1
1.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10TTD 7.41
$1.14TTD 7.68
-3.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4KTTD 225.6K
$34.0KTTD 229.7K
-1.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4KTTD 259.9K
$38.0KTTD 257.0K
1.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marabella
Port of Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.5TTD 538
$80.6TTD 545
-1.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.75TTD 316
$47.38TTD 320
-1.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.7TTD 417
$61.6TTD 416
0.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marabella
Port of Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$55.4TTD 375
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.04TTD 88.2
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.99TTD 67.6
$9.96TTD 67.3
0.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marabella
Port of Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$331TTD 2,237
$328TTD 2,215
1.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,219TTD 48.8K
$7,186TTD 48.6K
0.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marabella
Port of Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4TTD 395
$59.4TTD 401
-1.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.37TTD 259
$38.10TTD 258
0.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$145TTD 983
$144TTD 974
0.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130TTD 882
$128TTD 867
1.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marabella
Port of Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$760TTD 5,137
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$474TTD 3,203
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,820TTD 12.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,266TTD 8,557
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,357TTD 29.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,701TTD 11.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marabella
Port of Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$728TTD 4,919
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.38
5.38
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marabella: June 9, 2026
Last update for Port of Spain: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $88.0 in Marabella vs $89.0 in Port of Spain. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $374, with Port of Spain cheaper for home cooking.
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 Port of Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Marabella and Port of Spain?
Marabella and Port of Spain differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($919 vs $1,549 including rent). Marabella is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Marabella compared to Port of Spain?
You'd need roughly $1,379 in Marabella and $2,323 in Port of Spain to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Port of Spain pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Marabella or Port of Spain?
All in, you'll spend $919 per month in Marabella versus $1,549 in Port of Spain – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $919 in Marabella versus $1,549 in Port of Spain, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Marabella but tight or insufficient in Port of Spain. The gap between the two cities makes Marabella the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Marabella and Port of Spain?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Marabella or Port of Spain?
Expats usually find Marabella gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.