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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,613 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,286 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,727 per month in Port of Spain vs $2,144 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,841 per month in Port of Spain vs $3,002 in Arima, rent included.

Port of Spain costs about 25% more than Arima, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Port of Spain sits 17% above the global median, while Arima is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.54 TTD 70.1

$10.24 TTD 68.1

2.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.5 TTD 602

$74.3 TTD 495

21.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 TTD 58.2

$8.63 TTD 57.5

1.39%

Cappuccino

$3.80 TTD 25.29

$3.77 TTD 25.08

0.80%

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

$1.05 TTD 6.99

$1.03 TTD 6.88

1.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 TTD 4.71

$0.73 TTD 4.83

-2.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 TTD 15.15

$1.85 TTD 12.31

23.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 TTD 24.51

$2.88 TTD 19.19

27.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 TTD 16.27

$2.39 TTD 15.92

2.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 TTD 16.72

$2.38 TTD 15.83

5.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.88 TTD 19.15

$2.92 TTD 19.41

-1.37%

Eggs

$4.53 TTD 30.15

$4.30 TTD 28.59

5.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.85 TTD 45.56

$6.65 TTD 44.22

3.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 TTD 67.4

$6.66 TTD 44.34

51.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.83 TTD 78.7

$8.91 TTD 59.3

32.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.61 TTD 37.33

$5.66 TTD 37.65

-0.88%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 TTD 20.11

$2.30 TTD 15.28

31.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 TTD 25.24

$3.70 TTD 24.62

2.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 TTD 28.41

$4.84 TTD 32.20

-11.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 TTD 14.31

$1.33 TTD 8.86

61.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 TTD 12.94

$0.93 TTD 6.16

109.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 TTD 12.27

$1.41 TTD 9.38

30.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 TTD 9.42

$0.97 TTD 6.47

46.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 TTD 40.30

$4.84 TTD 32.18

25.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.94 TTD 126

$18.99 TTD 126

-0.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 TTD 14.90

$1.91 TTD 12.73

17.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 TTD 19.79

$2.94 TTD 19.54

1.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 TTD 7.77

$1.01 TTD 6.70

15.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$136 TTD 902

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 TTD 6.82

$0.71 TTD 4.72

45.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 TTD 8.23

$0.75 TTD 5.02

65.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.97 TTD 99.6

$14.55 TTD 96.8

2.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 TTD 7.79

$1.13 TTD 7.50

3.54%

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

$37.4K TTD 248.8K

$27.2K TTD 181.3K

37.24%

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

$41.7K TTD 277.6K

$35.8K TTD 238.3K

16.48%

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

$91.5 TTD 609

$89.5 TTD 595

2.30%

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

$52.4 TTD 349

$45.03 TTD 300

16.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 TTD 382

$57.1 TTD 380

0.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 TTD 380

$52.4 TTD 348

9.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.12 TTD 87.3

Cinema Ticket

$8.72 TTD 58.0

$8.93 TTD 59.4

-2.35%

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

$399 TTD 2,655

$176 TTD 1,169

126.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K TTD 73.8K

$10.6K TTD 70.2K

5.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 TTD 364

$61.9 TTD 412

-11.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.9 TTD 352

$44.37 TTD 295

19.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 TTD 981

$148 TTD 982

-0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 TTD 685

$72.3 TTD 481

42.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 TTD 6,841

$507 TTD 3,376

102.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$518 TTD 3,449

$362 TTD 2,412

43.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,187 TTD 14.6K

$1,029 TTD 6,850

112.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 TTD 7,949

$869 TTD 5,783

37.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,371 TTD 29.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,974 TTD 13.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$776 TTD 5,165

$1,217 TTD 8,100

-36.24%

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 Port of Spain: September 1, 2026

Last update for Arima: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Port of Spain versus $507 in Arima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 57% higher in Arima, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Port of Spain versus $74.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $314 – 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

Port of Spain vs Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port of Spain costs about 25% more than Arima, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,420 per month in Port of Spain and $1,929 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,613 in Port of Spain and $1,286 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $399 per month in Port of Spain and $176 in Arima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arima, where all-in costs run around $1,286, than in Port of Spain at $1,613. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port of Spain it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arima – 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 Arima. 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.