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 $1,593 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,163 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,747 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,925 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,901 per month in Port of Spain vs $2,687 in Arima, rent included.

Port of Spain costs about 37% more than Arima, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Port of Spain sits 19% above the global median, while Arima is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.50 TTD 70.8

$9.03 TTD 60.8

16.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.6 TTD 604

$72.7 TTD 490

23.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 TTD 49.00

$7.50 TTD 50.6

-3.07%

Cappuccino

$3.73 TTD 25.16

$2.39 TTD 16.12

56.07%

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

$1.10 TTD 7.42

$0.94 TTD 6.36

17.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.15

$0.75 TTD 5.07

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TTD 12.83

$1.59 TTD 10.70

19.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 TTD 20.38

$3.04 TTD 20.51

-0.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 TTD 18.28

$2.27 TTD 15.31

19.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 TTD 19.02

$2.37 TTD 15.96

18.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.61 TTD 17.61

$2.27 TTD 15.29

14.98%

Eggs

$5.14 TTD 34.65

$4.30 TTD 28.98

19.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.77 TTD 52.4

$6.25 TTD 42.12

24.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.60 TTD 71.5

$5.83 TTD 39.27

81.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.37 TTD 96.9

$4.33 TTD 29.17

231.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 TTD 39.05

$5.66 TTD 38.18

2.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 TTD 17.09

$2.07 TTD 13.94

22.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 TTD 28.60

$4.37 TTD 29.45

-2.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 TTD 32.83

$4.37 TTD 29.48

11.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 TTD 9.97

$1.00 TTD 6.73

48.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 TTD 11.29

$0.84 TTD 5.65

98.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 TTD 13.06

$1.46 TTD 9.83

32.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 TTD 9.55

$1.14 TTD 7.72

24.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 TTD 40.85

$4.29 TTD 28.92

41.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.02 TTD 128

$19.35 TTD 130

-1.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 TTD 14.95

$1.89 TTD 12.75

17.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 TTD 18.43

$2.81 TTD 18.95

-2.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 TTD 7.05

$0.79 TTD 5.31

32.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.0 TTD 667

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 TTD 6.86

$0.92 TTD 6.19

10.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 TTD 8.66

$0.72 TTD 4.89

79.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.61 TTD 98.5

$14.64 TTD 98.7

-0.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 TTD 7.67

$0.94 TTD 6.33

21.28%

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

$34.4K TTD 231.8K

$27.3K TTD 183.7K

26.18%

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

$38.3K TTD 257.8K

$27.7K TTD 186.4K

38.33%

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

$79.6 TTD 537

$81.5 TTD 549

-2.31%

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

$46.31 TTD 312

$43.65 TTD 294

6.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.4 TTD 414

$62.7 TTD 422

-1.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 TTD 365

$47.80 TTD 322

13.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.11 TTD 88.4

Cinema Ticket

$10.23 TTD 69.0

$5.19 TTD 34.98

97.11%

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

$330 TTD 2,225

$131 TTD 881

152.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,163 TTD 48.3K

$7,074 TTD 47.7K

1.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 TTD 405

$51.2 TTD 345

17.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.87 TTD 262

$27.01 TTD 182

43.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 TTD 967

$127 TTD 859

12.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 TTD 861

$75.0 TTD 505

70.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$765 TTD 5,155

$485 TTD 3,267

57.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 TTD 3,254

$355 TTD 2,389

36.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,824 TTD 12.3K

$843 TTD 5,680

116.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,285 TTD 8,664

$707 TTD 4,763

81.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,344 TTD 29.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,726 TTD 11.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$770 TTD 5,188

$1,206 TTD 8,127

-36.16%

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 Port of Spain: July 13, 2026

Last update for Arima: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $765 in Port of Spain versus $485 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 $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

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

Port of Spain costs about 37% 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 $2,390 per month in Port of Spain and $1,745 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 $1,593 in Port of Spain and $1,163 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $330 per month in Port of Spain and $131 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 $1,163, than in Port of Spain at $1,593. 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.