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 $1,573 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,184 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,743 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,919 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,913 per month in Port of Spain vs $2,653 in Arima, rent included.

Port of Spain costs about 33% more than Arima, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Port of Spain sits 17% above the global median, while Arima is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.21 TTD 68.4

$8.96 TTD 60.0

13.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.4 TTD 599

$72.5 TTD 486

23.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 TTD 48.97

$7.32 TTD 49.03

-0.14%

Cappuccino

$3.66 TTD 24.54

$2.42 TTD 16.24

51.24%

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

$1.05 TTD 7.01

$0.96 TTD 6.46

9.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 TTD 5.50

$0.71 TTD 4.73

15.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 TTD 12.13

$1.64 TTD 10.99

10.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 TTD 20.46

$2.89 TTD 19.38

5.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.63 TTD 17.61

$2.32 TTD 15.55

13.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 TTD 18.16

$2.26 TTD 15.17

19.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.56 TTD 17.16

$2.25 TTD 15.09

13.78%

Eggs

$5.03 TTD 33.73

$4.24 TTD 28.37

18.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 TTD 53.5

$5.91 TTD 39.58

35.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.31 TTD 69.1

$5.82 TTD 38.97

77.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.21 TTD 95.2

$4.41 TTD 29.54

222.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.73 TTD 38.38

$5.97 TTD 40.00

-4.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 TTD 16.79

$2.03 TTD 13.63

23.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 TTD 29.05

$4.26 TTD 28.53

1.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 TTD 32.28

$4.45 TTD 29.78

8.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 TTD 9.71

$1.04 TTD 6.97

39.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 TTD 11.18

$0.79 TTD 5.27

111.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 TTD 13.15

$1.51 TTD 10.09

29.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 TTD 9.84

$1.20 TTD 8.06

22.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 TTD 38.67

$4.32 TTD 28.97

33.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.09 TTD 121

$18.50 TTD 124

-2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 TTD 14.55

$1.96 TTD 13.14

10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 TTD 19.07

$2.72 TTD 18.21

4.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 TTD 7.10

$0.80 TTD 5.34

32.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.6 TTD 641

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 TTD 7.01

$0.98 TTD 6.58

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 TTD 8.56

$0.71 TTD 4.76

80.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.91 TTD 99.9

$14.94 TTD 100

-0.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 TTD 7.31

$0.93 TTD 6.20

17.20%

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

$34.1K TTD 228.1K

$26.8K TTD 179.7K

26.92%

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

$38.0K TTD 254.6K

$27.6K TTD 185.1K

37.58%

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

$80.6 TTD 540

$81.4 TTD 545

-0.95%

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

$45.86 TTD 307

$44.96 TTD 301

2.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.2 TTD 410

$61.4 TTD 411

-0.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 TTD 360

$48.83 TTD 327

9.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 TTD 88.7

Cinema Ticket

$10.05 TTD 67.3

$5.11 TTD 34.23

96.67%

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

$329 TTD 2,203

$133 TTD 888

148.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,096 TTD 47.5K

$7,247 TTD 48.6K

-2.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 TTD 398

$52.4 TTD 351

13.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.55 TTD 258

$26.74 TTD 179

44.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$144 TTD 967

$127 TTD 848

14.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 TTD 849

$75.2 TTD 504

68.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 TTD 5,086

$475 TTD 3,183

59.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 TTD 3,208

$355 TTD 2,376

35.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,841 TTD 12.3K

$856 TTD 5,736

115.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,273 TTD 8,526

$721 TTD 4,828

76.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,382 TTD 29.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,724 TTD 11.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 TTD 4,908

$1,183 TTD 7,926

-38.08%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Arima: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $759 in Port of Spain versus $475 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 62% 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 $89.0 in Port of Spain versus $73.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $291 – 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 33% 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 $2,360 per month in Port of Spain and $1,777 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 $1,573 in Port of Spain and $1,184 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $329 per month in Port of Spain and $133 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 $1,184, than in Port of Spain at $1,573. 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.